VILLAGE RESOURCE CENTER

career links

2011-12-15T14:12:00.001+05:30

	Academics
	• University Grants Commission - www.ugc.ac.in • Central Board Of Secondary Education - www.cbse.nic.in • Delhi University - www.du.ac.in • Jawaharlal Nehru University - www.jnu.ac.in • National Council for Teacher Education - www.ncte-in.org • National Council for Educational Research & Training - www.ncert.nic.in • Ministry of HRD (Education) - www.education.nic.in
	Aviation
	• Directorate General of Civil Aviation - www.dgca.nic.in • IATA training - www.iata.org • Ministry of Civil Aviation - www.civilaviation.nic.in • Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi - www.igrua.gov.in
	Banking
	• Reserve Bank of India - www.rbi.org.in • State Bank of India - www.statebankofindia.com • Panjab National Bank - www.pnbindia.com • Corporation Bank - www.corpbank.com
	Civil - Services
	• Union Public Service Commission - www.upsc.gov.in/ • Staff Selection Commission - ssc.nic.in • Department of Personal & Training - www.dopt.nic.in
	Defence
	• National Defence Academy - www.nda.nic.in • Indian Army - www.indianarmy.nic.in • Join Indian Army - www.joinindianarmy.nic.in • Indian Air Force - www.indianairforce.nic.in • Indian Navy - www.indiannavy.nic.in
	Engineering
	• All India Council of Technical Education - www.aicte.ernet.in • The Institutions of Engineers (India) - http://www.ieindia.org • IIT-Kharagpur - www.iitkgp.ac.in • Bureau of Energy Efficiency - www.bee.gov.in • Distance Education Council for distance education in Engineering - www.dec.ac.in • Joint Entrance Examination (Orissa) - www.jeeorissa.com
	Finance
	• The Institute Of Chartered Accountant – www.icai.org • The Institute Of Company Secretaries of India – www.icsi.edu • National Stock exchange of India - www.nseindia.com • Bombay Stock exchange - www.bseindia.com • Indian Institute of Banking & Finance – www.iibf.org.in • Indian Institute of Statistical Institute - www.isical.ac.in
	Hospitality
	• Incredible India - www.incredibleindia.org • Ministry of Tourism - www.tourisminindia.com
	IT
	• NASSCOM - www.nasscom.in • Ministry of IT - www.mit.gov.in • DOECC - www.doeacc.edu.in • Centre For Development of Advance Computing - www.cdac.in • Indian Institute of Technology Madras - www.iitm.ac.in
	Law
	• Supreme Court of India - www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in • Ministry of Law & Justice - www.lawmin.nic.in • National Commission for Women - www.ncw.nic.in • Central Administrative Tribunal - www.cgat.gov.in
	Library Science
	• Raja Rammohun Roy Library foundation - www.rrrlf.nic.in • National Archives Of India - www.nationalarchives.gov.in
	Management
	• Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta - www.iimcal.ac.in • Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad - www.iimahd.ernet.in
	Media
	• Indian Institute of Mass Commission - www.iimc.nic.in • Publications Division - www.publicationsdivision.nic.in • DoorDarshan - www.ddindia.com • Directorate Of Advertising and Visual Publicity - www.davp.nic.in • Press Information Bureau - www.pib.nic.in
	Medicine
	• Ministry of Health & Welfare - www.mohwf.nic.in • Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) - www.indianmedicine.nic.in • National Aids Control Organisation - www.nacoonline.org • Armed Forces Medical College - www.armedforces.nic.in
	Railways
	• Indian Railways - www.indianrail.gov.in • Indian Railways - www.indianrailways.gov.in • Ministry of Railways - www.railnet.gov.in • IRCON - www.ircon.org • Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. - www.irctc.co.in
	Retail
	• Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata - www.iiswbm.edu • CII Institute of Logistics, Chennai - www.ciilogistics.com • Gobind Ballabh Pant University - www.gbpuat.ac.in • Annamalai University - www.annauniv.edu • Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, - www.iift.edu
	Science
	• Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University - www.jntu.ac.in • IIT Bombay - www.iitb.ac.in • Mumbai University - www.mu.ac.in • Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad - www.ismdhanbad.ac.in • CSIR-UGC (NET) - www.csirhrdg.res.in • Indian Council of Medical Research, - www.icmr.nic.in • Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi - www.bitmesra.ac.in • Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai - www.mkudde.org • Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur - www.iitkgp.ernet.in • Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training - www.cifnet.nic.in • Bioinformatics Institute of India - www.bioinformaticscentre.org
	Science-IPR/PATENTS
	• Patent Office, Govt of India - www.ipindia.nic.in • Institute of Intellectual Property Studies, Mumbai - www.iips.ac.in • National Law School of India University, Nagarbhavi - www.nls.ac.in • Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (Deemed University) - www.iiita.ac.in
	Self Entrepreneurship
	• Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi - www.cmfri.com • Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai - www.tiss.edu • Ministry of Labour & Employment (Directorate General of Employment & Training) ADVANCED TRAINING INSTITUTE - http://dget.nic.in/atikanpur
	Pharmacy
	• Academy for Clinical Excellence (ACE) - www.aceindia.org • Institute of Clinical Research (ICRI) - www.icriindia.com • Bombay College of Pharmacy - www.bcpindia.org • Jamia Hamdarad Islamia - www.jmi.ac.in • National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER). S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab - www.niper.nic.in • Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar - www.gju.ernet.in

VRC 2012

2011-12-13T19:57:00.010+05:30

GOVERNMENT OF KERALA - Abstract
Agriculture Department -Implementation of projects sanctioned by the SLSC meeting -Administrative Sanction accorded- Orders Issued.

GO(MS) No.242 /2011/AD Thiruvananthapuram, Dated, 08/11 /2011

1. Government of India Letter No 7-3-2011 RKVY dated 19/04/2011 from Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, RKVY Division, KrishiBhavan, New Delhi.

2. Government Letter No. 7-1 /2011 RKVY dated, 25-05-2011 from Department of

Agriculture & Co-operation, KrishiBhavan, New Delhi

3. DO letter No. 1149/JS(RKVY) 11 dated, 28-06-2011 from Sri. S.C. Garg, Joint Secretary,

Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture &

Co- operation.

4. GO(MS) No. 128 /2011/AD dated, 18-05-2011

5. Minutes of the SLSC meeting of RKVY held on26/09/2011.

ORDER

In the letters read as first and second paper above, Government of India have communicated allocation of Rs. 173.93 crore for the state of Kerala under RKVY for the year 2011-12.

As per the letter read as 3^rd paper above, Government of India have communicated the allocation of Rs. 18.82 crore for two sub schemes of RKVY for the year 2011-12 viz Vegetable Cluster initiatives and National Mission for Protein supplements.

As per the GO read as 4^th paper above, administrative sanction was accorded for the projects approved in the first SLSC meeting of RKVY 2011-12 held on 18-03-2011 with a total outlay of Rs. 141.72 crore for the year 2011-12.

The SLSC in its meeting held on 26/09/2011 considered the proposal for new projects in respect of the remaining seven districts ( including the projects of State priority) with a total outlay of Rs.105.50 crore for the year 2011-12.

In the circumstances, Government are pleased to accord Administrative Sanction for implementation of the approved projects with a total outlay of Rs. 105.50 crores during the current financial year.

The amount required for these projects will be met from the provision under the H/A 2401-00-800-37-RKVY- Plan in the current year’s budget.

Details of district wise physical and financial targets, implementing agency, subsidy pattern, etc for each of the projects are given in annexure attached to this GO.

The Director of Agriculture will release funds during the current year for these projects as indicated in the annexure to this GO.

By Order of the Governor,K. Jayakumar, Additional Chief Secretary&Agriculture Production Commissioner

Summary of projects - RKVY 2011 - 12(Second SLSC)
				Annexure l
	Sl No	Component	Amount Rs in lakhs	Assistance under RKVY -Rs lakhs
	Sl No	Component	Amount Rs in lakhs	Assistance under RKVY -Rs lakhs
I	Agriculture
a	Department of Agriculture (DoA)
		Village resource centre in Wayanad
		Rural empowerment through space technology enabled Village Resource Centres (VRCs')-implemented through the District Planning Officer	28.8	28.8
		Total	28.8	28.8
		Total DoA	28.80	28.8
		Grand total	28.80	28.80

11

2011-11-11T20:15:00.000+05:30

11/11/11

You can speak in Public

2011-10-25T03:07:00.001+05:30

It’s a most valuable skill, for those who do it successfully reap substantial rewards, here’s a guide to the essentials.

When someone asks you to deliver a talk in front of a group, what’s your reaction? If you’re like most people, it’s sheer terror. According to The Book of Lists, the No. 1 phobia is the fear of public speaking.

Questions for discussion:

Share an experience when you were not prepared and asked to speak.

Can you improve your speaking skill? How?

The two steps in making any speech preparation and delivery are equally important. Here are four rules for planning your talk:

PICK THE RIGHT SUBJECT

It should be a topic about which you have strong feelings. The only way to be comfortable in front of an audience is to know what you’re taking about and to believe in what you’re trying to get across.

Choose a subject of direct interest to your listeners and slant your message to them. Assume that you’ve come up with an idea to improve NYG commitment. If you’re called upon to present your proposal emphasize the good it will bring, when presenting the plan to the youth leaders who implement it, stress how it will make their work easier to contact every youth.

ORGANIZE YOUR POINTS LOGICALLY

You need a beginning, usually a brief description of the problem you intend to attack, a middle that enumerates the main points in your solution, and an end that summarizes your entire presentation. An old rule for speakers puts it this way : “Tell them what you’re going to tell them; then tell them; and, finally, tell them what you’ve told them.”

It also helps to put “hooks” on each major point. Many of us were taught to memorize the names of the RAINBOW colours by remembering the mnemonic VIBGYOR standing for Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. Mnemonics help your listeners follow your train of thought. They make your message more memorable. And they help you remember what you want to say.

REHEARSE IN PRIVATE

After you’ve planned your presentation, you need to practice delivering it. It’s best to do this in private, not in front of a friend or family member. You’re rehearsing a speech to a group, not a one-on-one discussion. Try to visualize the audience. “See” and “hear” the positive response you’ll be receiving.

Whenever possible, do a final review in the room where you’ll be speaking. This way, you will feel at home during your actual performance.

KEEP NOTES TO A MINIMUM

The worst thing to do is try to read your speech. It’s virtually impossible to make a reading sound spontaneous . if necessary, list your major headings on index cards or old greeting cards with only a few words on each card. A quick glance will trigger your thoughts. The less you refer to notes, the better you’ll communicate with your audience. Public speaking is essentially a matter of communication between you and your audience. For most speakers, copious notes are more of a hindrance than a help.

But no matter how well you prepare, you also have to deliver the speech. Here are three rules for your delivery:

MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

There’s no need for “oratory” in the old-fashioned sense. Be your self, and you’ll seldom go wrong. Simple words and short sentences are best. Examples and anecdotes also help to “build a bridge” to your listeners. Also, be sure to look at the audience and maintain eye contact. Seek out the friendly faces. (Ignore any that are not).

For the platform pro, humor is a requirement, but for the average person, it is not necessary unless it makes a point and unless you use it well. Don’t begin a speech by saying, “Before I get into my talk, let me tell you a joke.” That sort of thing adds nothing to your message and , in fact, can destroy your effectiveness.

NEVER APOLOGIZE

If you feel any shortcomings, ignore them. If you have a cold, don’t mention it. To be confident, act confident. If you happen to forget what you were going to say next, keep it to yourself. (Your listeners won’t know unless you tell them). Instead, you can also ask the audience to reflect in silence what you have told them, giving you time to recollect.

If you suffer from stage fright, don’t worry about it. A certain degree of tension is helpful. As someone said, “Don’t remove your butterflies entirely, just get them to fly in formation.”

BUILD TO A CLIMAX

There should be a compelling purpose to your talk. Aim toward it throughout your speech. Then close with a call to action.

Don’t wait too long to finish. Be sure that you stop speaking before the audience stops listening. George M. Cohan had the right idea: “Always leave them wanting for more.”

The old saying, “practice makes perfect,” applies in public speaking too. So speak at every opportunity, the rewards can be enormous. Indeed, with practice, you can use speaking as springboard to success and a fuller, more satisfying life.

Reference – Reader’s Digest, Aug 1983

INDIA's 12th Five Year Plan

2011-09-06T19:51:00.002+05:30

The twelfth Five Year Plan is scheduled to be submitted in 2012!

How to get scholarships

2011-09-01T11:27:00.002+05:30

Most students and parents are under the impression that you need to either be an Olympic-caliber athlete or have perfect test scores and grades to qualify for some free money, but that’s not necessarily the case. With proper planning, research, and ambition, many students can qualify for and receive a college scholarship that is right for them.

Types of College Scholarships and How to Plan for Them

Merit

In order to snap up a partial or full merit scholarship, colleges look for students with a rigorous course load, high marks, and exceptional standardized test scores. However, you should not only focus on A’s and that perfect 2400, but also on being a well-rounded student with clear goals and ambitions. Decide what it is you like to do and where your talents lie, and get involved. Do you enjoy public speaking? Join the Debate Team or try out for Mock Trial. Have an affinity for numbers? Become a math-lete!

Can’t think of a club that you’d want to be a part of? Start your own! What colleges want are talented students who can add value and diversity to their student body. But don’t wait until April of your junior year to join the Future Farmers of America and expect to win your school of choice’s FFA award. What colleges want in a scholarship recipient is commitment and responsibility in academics and extracurricular interests.

Some universities offer scholarships to students who have excelled in a certain field and want to pursue a related major. For instance, some colleges offer college scholarships, upon admission, to students who have displayed academic rigor and interest in the specialized field. Department scholarships are yet another reason why staying on top of grades and activities is paramount.

Athletic

Apart from the skill you’re born with, the only secret to being a great athlete is hard work. Dedication to your sport and a desire for competition are crucial as well. Getting an athletic scholarship means being the best at your sport not only at your school but being better than most athletes of your kind in the nation, so you’ll have to play and train for years, plus have the right people see you perform. Chances are if you’re good enough to get a scholarship, people will be buzzing about you without your having to get your name out much. But if you are an athlete and think you may be eligible to receive some money, talk to your coach about sending schools your reels, or having scouts come out to see you play.

Need-based

Need-based college scholarships are given to students who don’t have the finances to attend college. Lately, among educational institutions with staggering endowments, the family income eligibility has broadened considerably to include not only lower-income families but also middle- to even upper middle-income ones. For instance, at Harvard University, admitted students whose families make $60,000 per year, or less, will receive 100% financial aid.

However, if you are not attending one of these institutions, you can still receive a need-based college scholarship if you’re willing to do the work. As soon as you submit your first application, visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid website, better known as FAFSA. You’ll need it to apply for any kind of federal financial aid, including scholarships.

Other places to get college scholarships

Corporations

Ask your parents, relatives, and friends if their companies offer scholarships to college students. It’s a tax write-off for them, and a chance to burnish their public images. Companies tend to want to reward high school students who are considering a professional field related to the product they are selling. For example, Tylenol gives away up to $350,000 in scholarships to “future doctors, nurses and other health professionals.” The quickest way to find such an offer is searching the internet until you see one interesting and fitting for your idea of your future goals.

Your Local Place of Worship

If you are an active member of a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or any other religious congregation, find out if they are offering scholarship money to high school students. The criteria are usually less stringent than merit-based scholarships because they want to see their members do well and hopefully give back later on. Contact the administration or leaders of your particular house of worship early senior year.

Your Community

Sometimes just being a member of the community is enough to earn you free money. Jump on the web and Google your city hall, local businesses, community centers, and groups around town that have members and money to give back.

Important Details to keep in mind:

Make sure your application is perfect. You wouldn’t want to miss out on cash because of a few careless spelling errors or a field left blank. Especially for college scholarships that attract many applicants, whoever is making the choice will have to first chop apps that aren’t completely filled out and proofread. Have an extra set of eyes (or two) look over each application and, if applicable, essay, so you get a fair shot at winning.
The Essay. Speaking of essay, if your application requires a written portion, here are some quick tips that are just as important as perfect grammar and spelling:
- Be likeable: Stay positive, optimistic, and relatable in whatever you write about.
- Be different: If the people who award scholarships are reading dozens, maybe hundreds, of essays, how is yours going to be different? Think of what makes your experiences and high school career unique. You don’t have to be a spectacular writer to achieve this, just…
- Be authentic: Don’t make up a heartwarming anecdote—unless you have one, or be hilarious and snarky—unless you really are. The best writing comes from someplace true.
- Sell yourself: Give the readers a reason to believe in your aptitude. Regardless of the prompt, discuss somewhere your ambition and dedication in everything that you do. It’s what they are ultimately looking for in the right candidate.
Get your dates straight. If you’re applying for several college scholarships, stay organized! Be aware of when the due date is, or whether the application is rolling. Find out if it’s first come, first serve or if whoever is evaluating the applications reads them all at once. These small details can count for a lot.

There are tons of resources available for students who are looking for college scholarship money. The bottom line is, as early as you can, optimize your time in high school by being involved, and always work hard. Each student has a talent or skill, something to offer to the school that’s right for them. Thinking ahead and being aware is a good way to find what you’re looking for.

How to get AADHAR CARD

2011-08-23T20:32:00.006+05:30

The prestigious UIDAI project is renamed as ‘AADHAAR’, with its own new logo. Unique Identification Authority of India project is known as AADHAAR which means 'support' or 'foundation'. Its logo is such design as a yellow sun with a fingerprint in its centre.
Aadhaar is an unique 12-digit number which is provided to every resident of India. This 12 digit number will be contains all basic demographics and biometric information about the owner like – photograph, ten fingerprints and iris in a central database. UID card will be Easily verifiable. Getting UID is not mandatory but it will be valuable.
UID card can contain all the personal information hence t can be used as ration card, passport or any ID based application.

The enrollment camps list needs to be updated as at present it is not covering all regions. If you are not able to find the list of centers, one of the possibility is that the centers for the area are yet of be finalized, but if you have the information about the centers, help updating it

Timing: The timing of most of the camps is from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Working days: Most of the camps are open on working days e.g Monday to Friday. Some might be open on weekends but confirm that before planning to go to one.

Click here for AADHAR enrollment Centers!

Along with the filled Aadhaar enrollment form, following documents need to be produced in original or attested copies from notary/gazetted officer.

Proof of Identity (PoI)
Proof of Address (PoA)
Date of Birth (DoB)

As per the UID website, following are the documents which will be accepted as proof. If you don’t have some or any of the listed documents, see the bottom section ‘In case one does not have documents for proof’ for the procedure to be followed.

Proof of Identity (PoI) (containing name and photo)

Passport
PAN Card
Ration/ PDS Photo Card
Voter ID
Driving License
Government Photo ID Cards
NREGS Job Card
Photo ID issued by Recognized Educational Institution
Arms License
Photo Bank ATM Card
Photo Credit Card
Pensioner Photo Card
Freedom Fighter Photo Card
Kissan Photo Passbook
CGHS / ECHS Photo Card
Address Card having Name and Photo issued by Department of Posts
Certificate of Identify having photo issued by Group A Gazetted Officer on letterhead

Documents without photos will not be accepted. Older photos are acceptable.

Proof of Address (PoA) (containing name and address)

Passport
Bank Statement/ Passbook
Post Office Account Statement/Passbook
Ration Card
Voter ID
Driving License
Government Photo ID cards
Electricity Bill (not older than 3 months)
Water bill (not older than 3 months)
Telephone Landline Bill (not older than 3 months)
Property Tax Receipt (not older than 3 months)
Credit Card Statement (not older than 3 months)
Insurance Policy
Signed Letter having Photo from Bank on letterhead
Signed Letter having Photo issued by registered Company on letterhead
Signed Letter having Photo issued by Recognized Educational Instruction on letterhead
NREGS Job Card
Arms License
Pensioner Card
Freedom Fighter Card
Kissan Passbook
CGHS / ECHS Card
Certificate of Address having photo issued by MP or MLA or Group A Gazetted Officer on letterhead
Certificate of Address issued by Village Panchayat head or its equivalent authority (for rural areas)
Income Tax Assessment Order
Vehicle Registration Certificate
Registered Sale / Lease / Rent Agreement
Address Card having Photo issued by Department of Posts
Caste and Domicile Certificate having photo issued by the state government.

For Date of Birth (DoB) proof (having name and DoB)

Birth Certificate
SSLC Book/Certificate
Passport
Certificate of Date of Birth issued by Group A Gazetted Officer on letterhead

In case one does not have documents for proof – Introducer System

In the case of people who do not have documents for proof, there is an introducer system. The Registrar for enrollment can designate individuals who can vouch for the validity of a person’s information. Introducers can be government agencies, banks, teachers, village postmen, elected representatives and NGOs. Introducers will be enrolled first and given training. Their UID will be mentioned among the details of the person who gets enrolled.

Aadhaar enrollment process

Resident goes to enrollment camp. (In coming times there might be online appointment) to get an application and token number of appointment for a particular day.
On that day the applicant visits the camp with original residential documents of address proof, identity proof and proof of relationship (for children below 5 years) and proof of date of birth along with photocopies of the documents.
En-roller (operator) enters resident data into system.
Resident validates data entry.
Face photograph of resident is captured.
Iris scan is done.
Fingerprint capturing of Left hand.
Fingerprint capturing of Right hand.
Thumb-print capture (both thumbs).
En-roller (operator) signs with his own finger print.
Resident receives printed acknowledgement.
He/she will receive Aadhaar number is 60 – 90 days by speed post.

Kindly note:

* As per UID norms, the application can be submitted anywhere in India.

* Photocopies of form are valid.

Who can get an Aadhaar?

An individual who is a resident in India and satisfies the verification process laid down by the UIDAI can get an Aadhaar.

Age:

A person of any age can get an aadhaar. For children below 3 years, biometric details will not be taken and the aadhaar will be linked to guardians/parents. They shall have to register biometrics when they turn 5 years of age. For children between 5 to 15 years, the biometric shall be re-registered again when they turn 15 years of age, as biometrics change with age.

Why Aadhaar?

Great potential for not-so-privileged, poor and the marginalised people, mostly living in the rural areas
Clear proof of identity
Facilitate entry for poor and underprivileged residents into the formal banking system
Opportunity to avail services provided by the government and the private sector
Giving migrants mobility of identity
Financial inclusion with deeper penetration of banks, insurance and easy distribution of benefits of government schemes.

Once a person is on the Aadhaar database the person will be able to establish identity easily. Aadhaar will become the single source of identity verification. Residents would be spared the hassle of repeatedly providing supporting identity documents each time they wish to access services such as obtaining a bank account, passport, driving license and so on. By providing a clear proof of identity, Aadhaar will also facilitate entry for poor and underprivileged residents into the formal banking system and the opportunity to avail services provided by the government and the private sector. Aadhaar will also give migrants mobility of identity.

Aadhar for NRI
The Aadhaar Number/ UID would be issued to every individual resident in India that satisfies the verification process laid down by the UIDAI, including NRIs, and foreigners residing in India. The physical presence in India for providing fingerprints and other bio-metrics etc is necessary. Aadhaar UID doesn’t establish citizenship and is not only for Indians.

Registration/ Enrollment of Aadhaar Number/ UID Card

Residents of India need to visit the nearest Enrollment Camp and need to fulfill some formalities (given below) in order to register for an Aadhaar.

Documents Verification.
Biometric Scanning of Ten Fingerprints.
Biometric Scanning of Iris.
Photograph.

Here are some of the stages of enrollment:

Enrolment Agency Operator

Resident Provides Verification Document

Enroler Enters Resident Data

Resident Validating Data Entry

Capture of Face Photograph

Iris Capture

Fingerprints Capture (Left Hand)

Fingerprints Capture (Right Hand)

Both Thumbprint Capture

Enroler Signing off with his own finger print

Resident Receives Acknowledgment

After these stages, residents will get an Aadhaar number within 20 to 30 days.

Code
# - Use for Unique Identity cards (Indians)
* - Use for NRI.
// - Use for foreigners working in embassies or Ministers/ Officials.
= - Use for foreign visitors in India.
*/ - Foreigners are working in Indian.
0xxx - Country code for NRI where he is living now..
0011 - Delhi (state code) NRI belongs to Delhi state
0000 - NRI belongs to particular district.
**** **** **** - The 12 digits will belongs to UID Number

Card's numbers

# 0091 0011 0000 **** **** **** - for Indian
* 0001 0212 0000 **** **** **** - for NRI (US Citizen)
// 0001 0212 0000 **** **** **** - for other foreigners working in India.
= 0001 0011 0000 **** **** **** - for foreign visitors.
*/ 0001 0032 0000 **** **** **** - for foreigners working in India.

How UID is useful

- Debit Card
- Credit Card
- No need carry huge amount of currency
- Bank Account opening
- Recruiters get all information about person.
- Shopping purpose
- As driving license
- Personal detail like, height, finger prints, etc.
- Voting card
- Property dealing
- Paying Electricity bill, Water bill, house tax or other bills itself.

AADHAR REGISTRATION VERI FICATION
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

Kindly Note: * Aadhaar is provided free of cost, No need to pay anyone. * There is no deadline (last date) for getting enrolled, If there is rush at enrollment centers, Don’t stress , have patience, there will be more centres, more counters in the days to come. * Aadhaar is a Number not a Card * Do NOT share/disclose your Aadhaar number publicly (e.g on this site). * It’s good to have an Aadhaar number, though its not mandatory (as of now).

VRC Social Business Model

2011-08-16T19:46:00.003+05:30

YC SB Model coming soon......

Future Sustainability of VRCs in Wayanad

2011-07-01T11:33:00.006+05:30

Kerala State Planning Board New Vice Chairman K.M.Chandrasekhar Sir (Ex.Cabinet Secretary)

RKVY-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Gets Quantum Jump in Funds

2011-06-18T15:18:00.002+05:30

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) will be implemented in the coming year (2011-12) with a budget of Rs. 7860 crore and nine sub-schemes. This represents a quantum jump in funds from Rs. 6775 crore in 2010-11 and wide expansion in the scope of the scheme.

Sharing the progress of implementation of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana with the Parliamentary Consultative Committee here today, Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar informed that the mega programme for agricultural rejuvenation will continue to allow full flexibility and authority to the States even after its expansion.

The RKVY will now have nine sub-schemes. Three of the sub-schemes were introduced in 2010-11 and will be continued this year also. The sub-schemes are as follows:

i. Extending Green Revolution to the Eastern Region of the Country. This sub-scheme gets an allocation of Rs. 400 crore and targets improvement in the rice based cropping systems of Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

ii. Integrated Development of 60,000 Pulses Villages in Rainfed Areas. This sub-scheme aims at attaining self-sufficiency in production of pulses within the next three years. An amount of Rs.300 crores has been proposed to promote 60,000 pulses villages in rainfed areas for increasing crop productivity and strengthening market linkages.

iii. Promotion of Oil Palm. It seeks to achieve a major breakthrough, special attention will be paid to oil palm as it is one of the most efficient oil crops. Accordingly, an amount of Rs. 300 crores has been provided to bring 60,000 hectares under oil palm plantation, by integrating the farmers with the markets.

iv. Initiative on Vegetable Clusters. Growing demand for vegetables will be met by a robust increase in the productivity and market linkage. For this purpose, an efficient supply chain will be established, to make quality vegetables available at competitive prices. An amount of Rs.300 crores has been provided for this.

v. Nutri-cereals. To promote balanced nutrition, higher production of bajra, jowar, ragi and other millets will be promoted. Additionally, projects will be taken up to upgrade their processing technologies and create awareness regarding their health benefits. This initiative would provide market linked production support to ten lakh millet farmers in the arid and semi-arid regions of the country. The programme would be taken up in 1000 compact blocks covering about 25,000 villages. Outlay for this programme is Rs. 300 crores.

vi. National Mission for Protein Supplements. This Mission is being launched with an allocation of Rs.300 crores to take up activities to promote animal based protein production through livestock development, dairy farming, piggery, goat rearing and fisheries in selected blocks.

vii. Accelerated Fodder Development Programme. To accelerate the production of fodder through intensive promotion of technologies to ensure its availability throughout the year, Rs. 300 crores have been provided for Accelerated Fodder Development Programme. It will benefit farmers in 25,000 villages.

viii. Rainfed Area Development Programme. This programme aims at improving productivity of crops in rainfed areas.

ix. Saffron Mission. This programme aims at revival of saffron cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir. It gets an allocation of Rs. 105 crores during 2011-12.

The Ministers of State for Agriculture, Shri Arun Yadav and Shri Harish Rawat were also present in the meeting. MPs who participated in the meeting included Shri Sharief-ud-din Sharif, Shri M. Krishnaswamy, Shri K.P. Dhanapalan, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Smt. Santosh Chowdhary of Lok Sabha, Shri Govindrao Adik, Shri VikramVikram Verma, Dr. K.P. Ramalingam, Shri T.M. Selvaganapathi, Smt. Mohsina Kidwai, Smt. Renubala Pradhan, Smt. Kusum Rai and Ms Mabel Rebello of Rajya Sabha.

GSAT-12 to Launch Mid-July on PSLV

2011-06-14T16:21:00.003+05:30

(ISRO) will launch its next communication satellite, GSAT-12, in the second week of July from the Sriharikota space center on a PSLV C-17 vehicle.On the heels of the successful launch of its communication satellite GSAT-8, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch the next communication satellite GSAT-12 .

“GSAT-12 will be moved from Bangalore to Sriharikota on Thursday (June 2) for conducting various pre-launch tests. The assembling of the launch vehicle has also commenced. “After the failure of the GSLV rocket in December, ISRO has decided to put all of its focus on developing the cryogenic engines that powered Mark-2 launch vehicles.”

The GSAT-12 mission follows Ariane space’s successful launch of ISRO’s communication satellite GSAT-8 in May. GSAT-12, built at a cost of Rs.148 crore, has 12 transponders in an extended C-Band and will help users in the field of tele-medicine, tele-education, social services, etc. The launch vehicle was expected to cost about Rs.100 crore. The satellite had been put on 55 degree east of geo-station orbit on Wednesday. Users of some of the decommissioned satellites would be moved to this, he said.

GSAT-8 satellite services would be available for users by the end of June following three weeks of in-orbit transponders tests currently underway.

India will launch five satellites by June, including one for advanced remote sensing and two for communications, say officials of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The first launch, scheduled for April 2011, will be of Resourcesat-2, intended for study and management of natural resources and sending back pictures and other data, and two other satellites.

India has the largest constellation of remote sensing satellites in the world providing imagery in a variety of spatial resolutions from better than a metre ranging up to 500 metres, and is a major player in vending such data in the global market.

ISRO will then launch two communication satellites – GSAT-8 from French Guyana and GSAT-12 from India – by June this year. These will serve the needs of the telecommunication and television sectors.

An ISRO official, GSAT-8 will augment the growing demand for communication transponders (automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals).

With India in the process of developing a rocket that could carry a three-tonne satellite, GSAT-8 will be launched by Ariane rocket from French Guyana this May 2011.

Following that will be the launch of GSAT-12 using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from ISRO’s rocket port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from Chennai this July 2011..

Weighing 1,425 kg, GSAT-12, with 12 extended C band transponders, is expected to be launched in July 2011.

The satellite is expected to serve the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) sector, used to transmit data like point of sale transactions or to provide satellite internet access and others.

Though PSLV rockets are largely used by ISRO to launch remote sensing/earth observation satellites, it has also been used to put into orbit communication satellites in geo transfer orbit (GTO).

According to ISRO officials, the PSLV rocket that will carry GSAT-12 will weigh over 300 tonnes – heavier than the standard PSLV rocket that weigh around 290 tonnes at lift off.

The rocket will be powered with much longer strap-on motors containing more fuel.

ISRO is also mulling the launch of another remote sensing satellite, Megha-Tropiques in July, to study and understand the life cycle of convective systems and their role in the associated energy and moisture budget of the atmosphere in the tropical regions.

The PSLV that will carry three satellites – the 1,200 kg Resourcesat-2 satellite, the 92 kg joint Indo-Russian nanosatellite Youthsat for stellar and atmospheric studies, and a 105 kg microsatellite X-sat for imaging applications, built by the Singapore-based Nanyang Technological University.

Not wanting to risk a failure, the Indian space agency decided to test a gas motor fitted in the second stage/engine, powered by liquid fuel, for high temperature tolerance levels after dismantling the fully assembled rocket.

This was the second time within an year that ISRO has dismantled a fully-assembled PSLV rocket to check out a component in the rocket’s second stage.

Last April, prior to the launch of Cartosat-2B satellite and a couple of other payloads, the rocket was dismantled to replace a faulty component.

The 44-metre tall PSLV is a four-stage (engine) rocket powered by solid and liquid propellants alternatively. The first and third stages are fired by solid propellant and the second and fourth stages are fired by liquid propellant.

India to launch 12 foreign satellites too
India has bagged multi-million dollar contracts to launch 12 foreign satellites in the lower orbit from its spaceport over the next two years, a top space agency official said Wednesday.

"Through our commercial arm Antrix Corporation, we have received orders from Canada, Indonesia, Germany and other European countries to launch a dozen satellites in the sun-synchronous orbit during the next two years," state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Radhakrishnan told.

Of the 12 satellites, four are from Canada, two each from Indonesia and Germany and one from Luxembourg. The remaining three spacecraft are from universities in Europe.

"We have an order from Germany to launch an 800-kg dedicated satellite (N-Map) for environmental studies. The other satellites, weighing between 80-100 kg will be launched on board our polar satellite launch vehicles (PSLVs) as additional payloads along with Indian communications or remote-sensing satellites," an Antrix official said.

Antrix is also in negotiations with France to launch a remote sensing satellite (EnMAP) in the lower orbit.

India has already launched a total of 26 foreign satellites during the past decade for various countries, including Germany, Italy, Israel, Korea and Singapore.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)-Rs.25000 CRORE for Kerala

2011-06-05T16:27:00.006+05:30

Particulars	National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP) / Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Description
Name of the Scheme	Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
Sponsored by	Central Government
Funding Pattern	The fund has been provided to the State as 100% Grant.
Ministry/Department	Agriculture Department
Description	This is a special central assistance scheme of the Government of India and implemented by the Government of Kerala, primarily aimed at evolving a strategy to rejuvenate the agriculture sector of the State. As per the scheme, the Government of Kerala has to prepare the State and District-level plans in the field of agriculture and allied sectors, based on guidelines issued by the Planning Commission, for availing financial assistance from Government of India.The objectives of the scheme, in general, are to provide incentives to the State for increasing public investment in agriculture and allied sectors, and in particalr, (1)to ensure that agriculture for the State and districts are prepared based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of technology and natural resources; (2)to make sure that local needs/crops/priorities are better reflected in the agricultural plan of the State; (3)to reduce yield gaps in important crops through focused interventions; (4)Maximisation of returns to farmers in agriculture and allied sectors; (5)to bring about quantifiable changes in production and productivity of various components of agriculture and allied sectors by addressing them in a holistic manner.The allocation for the scheme is Rs.6011.10 lakhs
Beneficiaries	Individual,Family,Community,Women
Benefits
Benefit Type	Material,Loan,Subsidy
Eligibility criteria	The Department of Agriculture has to prepare Agriculture plans and State Agriculture plans based on the guidelines of the Planning Commission through the State Planning Board.
How to Avail	Through the Agriculture Department and Local Self Governments.
Validity of the Scheme
Introduced On	01 / 08 / 2007
Valid Upto	06 / 08 / 2012

GSAT-8-The Indian communication satellite launched successfully

2011-05-24T00:33:00.002+05:30

India's latest communication satellite GSAT-8 was successfully launched on Saturday by Arianespace from Kourou in French Guiana to give a boost to direct-to-home services in the country. GSAT-8 was injected into space by European launcher Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket, which lifted-off at 02.08 hours (IST), with Japan's ST-2 spacecraft as co-passenger.French Guiana is a region of France on the northeast coast of South America.

The 3,100 kg GSAT-8, primarily aimed at augmenting the direct-to-home TV broadcast services, was hurled into space by European launcher in a 31-minute mission on Ariane 5 rocket's 44th consecutive successful flight.

The Indian satellite, with a Japanese co-passenger ST2, was the second to be injected into the Geo Synchronous Transfer Orbit by the rocket which blasted off at 2.08 a.m. (IST) from French Guiana, a region of France on the North-East coast of South America.

GSAT-8, which is expected to become operational in four-six weeks after being inducted into the INSAT system, is equipped with 24 high-powered Ku Band transponders to augment India's Ku-band relay capabilities — particularly DTH services.Weighing 1,426 kg (dry mass) in space, the cuboid shaped spacecraft has 24 high-power Ku-band transponders as its payload for direct-to-home (DTH) services from July 1 by state-run and private broadcasters after its induction into the Indian satellite (INSAT) system.GSAT-8, which will give a boost to direct-to-home services in the country.

.The total cost of the GSAT-8 project is about Rs 600 crore, including around Rs 250 crore for the spacecraft, more than Rs 300 crore for launch services by Arianespace and over Rs 30 crore towards insurance, ISRO sources told PTI.An Indian Space Research Organisation team, which witnessed the launch, expressed delight over the successful mission

Resourcesat-2 Satellite Launched

2011-04-22T12:06:00.004+05:30

The launch of remote-sensing satellite the ResourceSat-2 has been tentatively scheduled for 10.12 a.m., April 20 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

1,206 kg satellite

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C16) will launch the 1,206-kg satellite along with two other satellites — YouthSat and X-Sat — from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

ResourceSat-2, built by ISRO, is an advanced remote sensing satellite and designed for the study and management of natural resources.

YouthSat, weighing 92 kg, is a joint Indo-Russian satellite for stellar and atmospheric studies. X-Sat is a microsatellite for imaging applications built by the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

All the three satellites have been integrated into the launcher, an ISRO release said. After the final phase of vehicle operations assessment is completed, the pre-launch and launch rehearsal procedures will be carried out.

________________________________________________________________

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): India on Wednesday successfully launched the advanced earth observation satellite Resourcesat-2, a move aimed at beefing up its remote sensing capability, and two smaller satellites on the PSLV rocket from its spaceport here.

On Wednesday morning around 10.15 a.m., the Indian Space Research Organisation's Rs.90 crore rocket - the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - soared towards the heavens to place in orbit Resourcesat-2.

Built to last for five years, the Rs.140 crore crore Resourcesat-2 will augment ISRO's remote sensing data services. It will replace Resourcesat-1 sent up in 2003.

Resourcesat-2 was originally scheduled for a January launch but got postponed to February and then to April.

Apart from carrying three sophisticated cameras, the satellite also carries additional equipment called AIS (Automatic Information System) from COMDEV, Canada, for the surveillance of ships in the VHF band to derive their position and speed, among others.

"With the launch of Resourcesat-2, ISRO will have 10 remote sensing satellites in orbit- Resourcesat 1, TES, Cartosat 1, 2, 2A and 2B, IMS-1, RISAT-2, Oceansat-2," S. Satish, ISRO's director (Publications and Public Relations), said.

With the largest civilian remote sensing satellite constellation in the world, India is a global leader earning a sizeable amount vending imageries in a variety of spatial resolutions, spectral bands and swaths.

Rs.2 PER KG RICE for KERALA !

2011-04-06T06:56:00.003+05:30

Currently rice for Rs 2 is available to only those who are listed in the below poverty line category. For other card holders, the price is Rs 9 per kg.

The Left Front government in Kerala is set to announce an ambitious programme where rice for all would be offered at Rs 2 per kg, according to state Finance Minister Thomas Issac.

"It will cost (the government) around Rs 30 crore a month and I am taking the gamble. I am doing this because some people appear to be wondering if Tamil Nadu can do this, why not Kerala," asked Issac, referring to the policy in the neighbouring state.

When asked whether the plan has been approved, the minister said it is almost through and will come up in Wednesday's cabinet meeting.

"This programme will be available to all those who register their name with the civil supplies department to join the scheme. Then we will decide on what should be the ceiling limit for each card holder," Mr.Issac said.

The move is significant as state assembly polls will be announced soon with the government's term ending May 17 ,2011.

INDIA Shining!!!The Why and by WHOM?

2011-03-27T01:21:00.004+05:30

tRAIN yOUR BRAIN :)

Free Counselling Programs & Services by VRC

2011-02-22T01:08:00.008+05:30

Newly Started Counselling Activities by Kerala VRC.

Career Counselling

Meeting with a Career Counsellor will give you the tools to:

Determine whether to pursue a new career, or another job
Take an inventory of your attributes, values, skills, talents/interests
Identify what you need for career satisfaction
Focus on your strengths and develop strategies for working on your weaknesses
Investigate Career Cruising, which provides extensive information on careers
Create an action plan to reach your goal and overcome obstacles

The Career Counsellor can also:

Refer you to other agencies or programs
Help you improve your job search techniques
Stage a mock interview and provide helpful feedback

Employment Counselling

In addition to providing feedback on your resume and cover letters, an Employment Facilitator can:

Provide you with a successful formula that will help you write cover letters that get results
Assist you with creating Skill Based resumes that will increase your chances of capturing the employers attention-and you getting an interview
Demonstrate how to use the information on your resume to prepare for an interview by creating answers to Behaviour Descriptive interview questions
Introduce you to new resources and job search strategies

To see an Employment Facilitator or Career Counsellor,
call 9846992377 to make an appointment

Resources

Job Search booklets on:

Interview Preparation
Researching an Organization
Resume Writing
Writing Effective Cover Letters
References
Telephone Interviews
Job Search Web Sites
Job Postings
Community Resources
Training Information
Sample Resumes and Skill Sets
Education and Training Information
Access to computers for job search or personal use
Recent happenings - job fair and other opportunities
Helping you to improve your proactive skill sets and interpersonal skills.

Indian Government Online Services

2011-01-31T16:54:00.002+05:30

Obtain:

Birth Certificate – http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=1
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Inflation in INDIA - a peep thru !

2011-01-17T21:32:00.005+05:30

Inflation is rising at its fastest level in six years, so follow our advice to beat the great squeeze.Family finances are being squeezed from all sides as inflation is rising at its fastest level in six years, according to official figures

The Retail Prices rose by 4.2 per cent over the last year but there have been even bigger hikes in electricity and food prices – up by 8 per cent and 7 per cent respectively – and petrol prices which are 19 per cent higher. As a result, seven in 10 middle-Indian households are cutting spending, tens of thousands are eating into their nest eggs and one in five are reducing or stopping pension contributions or savings, according to a recent survey by an insurance giant.

It also found that nearly one in seven of more affluent households have been forced to get a second job or send a non-worker out to work.
So How can we cope up with the Recession ? Watch Out :-
1. Housing
2.Energy
3.Food
4.Vehicle
5.Water
6.Tax
7.Insurance
8.Pensions and Annuities
9.Telephone Bills
10.Education Expenses
11.Health and Wellness
12.Transport
13.Bank and Finance
14.Holiday Spending
15.Saving and Investments
16.Drinking and Eating
17.Borrowing
When finances are tight there is a temptation to borrow more – but it is important to do it sensibly and at the right interest.
18.Clothing and Household goods
The price of clothing and footwear fell by 6.3 per cent over the year.The downturn in consumer spending is keeping a lid on price increases and retailers are desperate for sales. Make sure you drive a hard bargain.
19.Gold has always been a good tool to Fight !

What RBI Says !!

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reiterated its concern over high inflation, saying it continues to be “at elevated” levels, hinting at a possible rate hike in its January 2011 review of monetary policy.

The Indian central bank has hiked its key rates six times so far this year to fight inflation, but left the rates unchanged in its December review. The inflation rate dropped to a 11-month low 7.48% in November but food inflation, a critical component of the overall inflation basket, rose sharply in December.

Food inflation surged to a 10-week high of 14.44% for the week ended 18 December against 12.13% in the previous week, due to high vegetable prices.

“Inflation, particularly food inflation, in India continues to rule at elevated levels reflecting in part the structural demand-supply mismatches resulting from, inter alia, rising incomes and changing consumption patterns,” RBI said in its second financial stability report.

The report, released half yearly, is published by the financial stability unit of RBI to assess the health of financial system to identify and analyze the potential risks to the economy. The first stability report was released in March.

On Thursday, both the finance minister and RBI officials expressed their concerns over high inflation and indicated more steps to check rising prices.

“This is an area of concern... earlier we thought that it is because of the base effect, but it is not merely the base effect. There has been real increase in the prices of certain food items,” finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said earlier in the day.

RBI deputy governor K.C. Chakrabarty, said the central bank is prepared to take action to curb the high inflation. “RBI has already taken the measure. If the Reserve Bank feels the measure is not adequate, they (RBI) will take more measures.”

Announcing its mid-term policy review in November, RBI had said that the probability of further rate hike till January is relatively low.

Chakrabarty, however, said a pause doesn’t necessarily mean a complete stop. “Pause does not mean halt. You need to distinguish between pause and halt. Pause is not a halt,” Chakrabarty said.

On capital flows, the RBI report said that the dominance of portfolio flows is a “potentially worrying feature” of the flows.

“A potentially worrying feature of capital flows to India has been the dominance of portfolio flows which are prone to sudden stops and reversals,” RBI said.

So far in 2010, foreign investors have bought shares worth $28.8 billion (Rs.1.3 trillion) in domestic equities.

The apex bank also said the stress tests conducted on credit, market and liquidity risks have indicated “a reasonable degree of resilience” of the banking sector in the country, but the asset quality of banks and their asset-liability management position continue to warrant monitoring.

Indian banks could withstand the shock of the global credit crunch in the wake of the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. because of their high capital to assets ratio and low non-performing assets (NPAs). However, the industry’s NPA has been on the rise as many assets, which were restructured in 2009, giving stressed customers more time to pay up, are turning bad now.

The stability report also touched upon the recent crisis in the microfinance sector and said “recent concerns warrant closer examination”.

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are under pressure in Andhra Pradesh following a state law that restricts their operations. MFIs, in the business of giving tiny loans to poor people, is also under the glare of the finance ministry and the banking regulator for charging high rates to customers.

China attack India by 2012

2010-12-28T22:15:00.005+05:30

China will attack India by 2012 to divert the attention of its own people from "unprecedented" internal dissent, growing unemployment and financial problems that are threatening the hold of Communists in that country.A secret exercise, called ‘Divine Matrix’, by the army’s military operations directorate has visualised a war scenario with the nuclear-armed neighbour before 2012.

"China will launch an attack on India before 2012. There are multiple reasons for a desperate Beijing to teach India the final lesson, thereby ensuring Chinese supremacy in Asia in this century.

The recessions had "shut the Chinese exports shop", creating an "unprecedented internal social unrest" which in turn, was severely threatening the grip of the Communists over the society.

Among other reasons for this assessment were rising unemployment, flight of capital worth billions of dollars, depletion of its foreign exchange reserves and growing internal dissent. Also the growing irrelevance of Pakistan, their right hand that operates against India on their behest, is increasing the Chinese nervousness, leaving clue that US President Barak Obama's Af-Pak policy was primarily Pak-Af policy that has "intelligently set the thief to catch the thief".

Beijing has "already rattled, with its proxy Pakistan now literally embroiled in a civil war, losing its sheen against India." "Above all, it is worried over the growing alliance of India with the US and the West, because the alliance has the potential to create a technologically superior counterpoise.
All these three concerns of Chinese Communists are best addressed by waging a war against pacifist India to achieve multiple strategic objectives.

While China "covertly allowed" North Korea to test underground nuclear explosion and carry out missile trials, it was also increasing its naval presence in South China Sea to coerce into submission those opposing its claim on the Sprately Islands.

Now the most attractive option for China is to attack a soft target like India and forcibly occupy its territory in the Northeast. But India is "least prepared" on ground to face the Chinese threat,.Lets see how will India respond to repulse the Chinese game plan or whether Indian leadership would be able to "take the heat of war".

"Is Indian military equipped to face the two-front wars by Beijing and Islamabad? Is the Indian civil administration geared to meet the internal security challenges that the external actors will sponsor simultaneously through their doctrine of unrestricted warfare? "The answers are an unequivocal 'no'. Pacifist India is not ready by a long shot either on the internal or the external front. In view of the "imminent threat" posed by China, "the quickest way to swing out of pacifism to a state of assertion is by injecting military thinking in the civil administration to build the sinews. That will enormously increase the deliverables on ground – from Lalgarh to Tawang .
courtesy : commander

Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme - PMEGP

2010-11-22T22:49:00.004+05:30

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) has launched a new credit linked subsidy programme called Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) on 61st anniversary of Indian Independence by merging the two schemes that were in operation till 31.03.2008 namely Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises in rural as well as urban areas. PMEGP will be a central sector scheme to be administered by the Ministry of MSME.

2. The subsidy levels, the cost limit of projects or units that could be established under PMRY which was extended to rural areas as well in 1994-95, were quite low and unattractive compared to those available to the beneficiaries in REGP. While the maximum subsidy admissible was Rs.12500 and the maximum cost of project that could be established was Rs.5 lakh under PMRY, the maximum subsidy that was admissible was Rs.4 lakh and the maximum cost of project that could be established was Rs.25 lakh under REGP for a beneficiary belonging to General category. There were more attractive programmes for creation of self employment opportunities being operated by many State Governments. Recovery rates of loans under PMRY were also considerably less than those under REGP. PMEGP improves upon the subsidy levels and cost limits of projects compared to those available so far under PMRY and ensures that the attractiveness of REGP is not diluted in any way while simultaneously strengthening the selection process, implementation and monitoring mechanism.

3. The subsidy levels under PMEGP are as under:
Categories of beneficiaries under PMEGP

General
Owner’scontribution - 10%
Rate of Subsidy (of cost of Project)
Urban - 15%
Rural - 25%

Special (including SC/ STs/ OBCs/ Minorities/ Women, Ex-servicemen, Physically Handicapped, NER, Hill and Border Areas)
Owner’scontribution - 05%
Rate of Subsidy (of cost of Project)
Urban - 25%
Rural - 35%

4. The upper limit of the cost of project that could be setup in the manufacturing sector is Rs.25 lakh while that in the business/service sector is Rs.10 lakh. There are no ceiling limits of annual income in respect of beneficiaries while a minimum educational qualification of VIII standard pass will be required for beneficiaries in respect of projects costing more than Rs.10 lakh in manufacturing sector and more than Rs.5 lakh in business/service sector. The beneficiaries would be identified, inter alia, with the help of Panchayats, Special Awareness Camps and will be provided with a mandatory Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training of a duration of two to three weeks. The scheme envisages electronic tracking of applications, 100 per cent verification of projects/units that will be established and model project profiles have been updated in association with banks. The scheme will be implemented at the national level through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), an organization created under an Act of Parliament reporting to MoMSME which will place the funds of Government subsidy with the participating banks which in turn will disburse the same to the beneficiaries on receipt of applications and their own contribution ‘upfront’ in accordance with the guidelines of the scheme.

5. While KVIC has been given the overall responsibility for implementing PMEGP at the national level, it will directly do so in respect of the targets for rural areas, as defined in the KVIC Act, through its State Offices and State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs). Implementation of PMEGP in urban areas and other rural areas will be done through the State Governments {District Industries Centres (DICs)}. The newly introduced Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana of MoMSME can also be tapped for providing handholding support to the beneficiaries under PMEGP.

6. Budget Estimates 2008-09 have provided Rs.823 crore for PMEGP which includes Rs.83 crore towards Backward and Forward linkages including EDP training, publicity, marketing support, e-tracking of applications, physical verification of projects and so on. An estimated 6.17 lakh additional employment opportunities are targeted to be generated in 2008-09. The estimated total outlay for subsidy under PMEGP is Rs.4485 crore in addition to Rs.250 crore earmarked for providing Backward and Forward linkages to the micro enterprises between 2008-09 to 2011-2012 leading to an estimated generation of around 37.38 lakh additional employment opportunities. The scheme will be got independently reviewed after two years of its implementation.

HOW TO Obtain Birth Certificate

2010-11-19T03:01:00.002+05:30

What is a Birth Certificate and Why is it Essential?

A Birth Certificate is the most important identity document that makes it possible for anyone in possession of it to benefit from a gamut of services offered by the Indian Government to its citizens. It becomes necessary to obtain a Birth Certificate because it serves to establish the date and fact of one's birth for a whole range of purposes, like acquiring the right to vote, admission to schools and to the Government Service, claiming the right to marry at the legally permissible age, settlement of inheritance and property rights, and obtaining Government-issued identity documents like a driving licence or passport.
The Legal Framework

In India, it is mandatory under the law (as per the Registration of Births & Deaths Act, 1969 (External website that opens in a new window) ) to register every birth/stillbirth with the concerned State/UT Government within 21 days of its occurrence. The Government accordingly has provided for a well-defined system for registration of Birth, with the Registrar General at the centre and the Chief Registrars in the States, running through district registrars to the village and town registrars at the periphery.
What You Need to Do

To apply for a Birth Certificate, you must first register the birth. The birth has to be registered with the concerned local authorities within 21 days of its occurrence, by filling up the form prescribed by the Registrar. Birth Certificate is then issued after verification with the actual records of the concerned hospital.

In case the birth has not been registered within the specified time of its occurrence, the certificate is issued after due police verification ordered by the revenue authorities.

HOW TO Apply for Inclusion of name in the Electoral Rolls

2010-11-19T02:57:00.002+05:30

Why is it Important to get Your Name Included in the Electoral Rolls?

For every constituency, there is a list of voters that is called the Electoral Roll. To be able to exercise your vote, your name must be in the Electoral Roll of the area of your residence. According to Article 326 of the Constitution and Sec. 19 of the R. P. Act, 1950, the minimum age for the registration of a voter in India is 18 years, as on the first day of January of the year in which the Electoral Roll is prepared or revised.
What You Need to Do

Anyone who is a citizen of India and is at least 18 years of age is eligible to vote. People who are not citizens of India are not eligible to vote. Non-resident Indian Citizens who are employed under the Govt. of India in a post outside India are eligible to be registered as voters as per the terms of Sec 20 (8) (d), read with Sec 20 (3) of the R. P. Act, 1950.

You can get your name included in the voters list either during a door-to-door campaign by the authorised Govt. functionaries, conducted once in every 10 years, or during annual revision, the date of which is published by the Election Department. You need to apply in the prescribed form, which is available either online or with the ERO (Election Registration Officer)/Designated Officer, and present yourself on the date of hearing. If everything is found to be in order, your name will be included in the Electoral Roll of the constituency in which you reside.

Note:

A person living in a particular constituency can only get enrolled in that constituency and in none other. Also, one's name cannot feature in the Electoral Roll of more than one constituency at any point of time.

Here is how to get a voters card in India:
voters card in India Things you need:
Xerox copy of ration card
Xerox copy of telephone or electricity bill
Xerox copy of pan card or passport

Step 1 : The municipality generally opens camps at various locations and informs the residents to bring valid documents on the stipulated dates and timings. Be sure to reach the spot on the given day and at the given time with the required valid documents.

voters card in IndiaStep 2 : Take the Xerox copies along with you. You will need to show Xerox copies of the things mentioned in the Things you need section of this article.

Step 3 : Take all interested family members along with you. All the members of a family who want to obtain a voters card need to present at the camp.

HOW TO Apply for Passport

2010-11-19T02:51:00.003+05:30

The Consular Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for the issuance of the Indian Passport to Indian Citizens. Passports are issued to Indian citizens from 30 locations across the country and 163 Indian missions abroad.

All information pertaining to the issuance of Passports can be availed from the Central website passport.gov.in . All the Passport offices (External website that opens in a new window) located in India have an online Status Enquiry Service , whereby one can check the status of a passport application by entering the File Reference Number available in the receipt. Applicants can also avail the facility to submit their grievances online, in case there are any.
How to Apply For a Passport

To apply for a fresh Passport, re-issue of Passports/ issue of Passports in lieu of lost & damaged Passports and for miscellaneous services, obtain the relevant Passport Application Form from any of the Passport Offices or the designated Speed Post centers or any of the designated outlets in your city. The Passport Application Form (External website that opens in a new window) can also be downloaded by clicking here.

Click here for the detailed eligibility rules and instructions for filling up the form.

The carefully filled up Application Form has to be submitted, along with proof of residence, proof of date of birth, personal particulars form (if applicable), 'No Objection Certificate' (in case of Government of Public Sector Employees), necessary affidavits and other supporting documents at any of following locations, under the jurisdiction of which the applicant is presently residing:

1. Across the counter of the Passport office
2. At the Speed Post centers
3. District Passport Cells
4. Passport Collection Centers

For further information and details, kindly visit the central website of the Passport Office

HOW TO pply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN)

2010-11-19T02:48:00.002+05:30

Permanent Account Number (PAN) refers to a ten-digit alphanumeric number, issued in the form of a laminated card, by the Income Tax Department in India. It is a must to have a PANnumber for all those who file their income tax returns, because from 2005 onwards, it has been made mandatory by the Income Tax Department to quote the PAN on return of income as well as on all correspondence with any income tax authority in the country.

Also, it is now compulsory to quote PAN in all documents pertaining to financial transactions notified from time to time by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, such as sale and purchase of immovable property or motor vehicle or payments in cash, of amounts exceeding a certain limit to hotels and restaurants, or in connection with travel to any foreign country. It is also mandatory to mention PAN for obtaining a telephone or cellular telephone connection. Likewise, PAN has to be mentioned for making a time deposit exceedingRs. 50,000/- with a Bank or Post Office or for depositing cash of Rs. 50,000/- or more in aBank.
How to apply for a PAN ?

The Income Tax Department (External website that opens in a new window) has ensured that applying for a PAN is a simple and convenient procedure. All you need to do is submit the requisiteApplication Form No. 49A (273 KB) (PDF file that opens in a new window) . The PAN application can also be downloaded from the website of UTI Investor Services Ltd (the authorised agency to manage IT PAN service Centres in various cities) or from the website of National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) (External website that opens in a new window) or printed by local printers or photocopied (on A4 size 70 GSM paper) or obtained from any other source. The form is also available at IT PAN Service Centres and TIN Facilitation Centres.

You will need a recent colour photograph (stamp size: 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm) to attach on the form. You must mention the designation and code of the concerned Assessing Officer of theIncome Tax department in Form 49A. You can get this from the IT PAN Service Centresmentioned in the websites listed above. Also, the application shall have to be accompanied by a proof of identity as well as a proof of residence.

The filled application form has to be submitted at your nearest IT PAN Service Centre orTIN Facilitation Centre along with the requisite fee. The location of such centres can besearched online by using the facility given below :

* IT PAN Service Centres (External website that opens in a new window)
* TIN Facilitation Centres(External website that opens in a new window)

Applications for fresh allotment of PAN can also be submitted through the Net

Further, requests for changes or correction in PAN data or a request for a newPAN card (for an existing PAN) may also be made through the Internet. For more details visithttp://www.tin-nsdl.com (External website that opens in anew window). If an application for allotment of PAN is submitted through theInternet and payment made through a 'nominated' credit card, the PAN is allotted on priority and communicated through email.

For more information, visit the FAQ section on Permanent Account Number (External website that opens in a new window) on the Income Tax Department website.

HOW TO Apply for Ration Card

2010-11-19T02:45:00.002+05:30

What is a Ration Card and Why is it Needed?

A Ration Card is a document issued under an order or authority of the State Government, as per the Public Distribution System, for the purchase of essential commodities from fair price shops. State Governments issue distinctive Ration Cards to Above Poverty Line, Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya families and conduct periodical review and checking of Ration Cards.

A Ration Card is a very useful document for Indian citizens. It helps save money by aiding in the procurement of essential commodities at a subsidised rate. It has also become an important tool of identification now-a-days. You may need to produce a copy of your Ration Card as proof of identification when applying for other documents like Domicile Certificate, for inclusion of your name in the Electoral Rolls, etc.

Families living below the poverty line are entitled to Blue Cards, under which they can avail special subsidies. In addition to permanent Ration Cards, States also issue temporary Ration Cards, which are valid for a specified number of months, and are issued for relief purposes.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Ration Card

You may obtain the application form for making a new Consumer (Ration) Card from any Circle Office. You will require passport-sized photographs of the head of your family attested by a gazetted officer/MLA/MP/Municipal Councillor, the specified proof(s) of residence, and the Surrender/Deletion Certificate of the previous Ration Card, if there was any.

In case you are not able to provide any proof of residence, the Circle FSO conducts spot inquiries by recording the statements of two independent witnesses in your neighbourhood. The standard prescribed time schedule for the preparation of a Ration Card is generally 15 days. However, the procedure and time limit may vary from State to State.

There is also a provision for making amendments to valid Ration Cards.

HOW TO Obtain a Domicile Certificate

2010-11-19T02:43:00.002+05:30

What is a Domicile Certificate and Why is it Needed?

A Domicile/Residence Certificate is generally issued to prove that the person bearing the Certificate is a Domicile/Resident of the State/UT by which the Certificate is being issued. This Certificate is required as proof of residence to avail Domicile/Resident Quotas in educational institutions and in the Government Service, as also in case of jobs where local residents are preferred.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Domicile Certificate

The prescribed application forms are either available online or from the local authorities, i.e. the Sub-Divisional Magistrate/Tehsildar's office/Revenue Department/District Collector's Office, or any other authority as specified in the State/UT of your residence. You will be required to produce proof of continuous residence in the State/UT for a specified minimum period, or that of holding land in the State/UT, depending on the rules in the State/UT concerned. Documents for proving your identity, attestation of the form by officers with the necessary authority, school certificates and the Tehsil Enquiry Report may also be required.

Women not originally belonging to a State/UT, but married to men who are permanent residents of the State/UT or who are eligible for the State's/UT's Domicile Certificate, are eligible to apply for Domicile Certificate.

Note:

HOW TO Obtain Death Certificate

2010-11-19T02:42:00.000+05:30

What is a Death Certificate and Why is it Needed?

A Death Certificate is a document issued by the Government to the nearest relatives of the deceased, stating the date, fact and cause of death. It is essential to register death to prove the time and date of death, to establish the fact of death for relieving the individual from social, legal and official obligations, to enable settlement of property inheritance, and to authorise the family to collect insurance and other benefits.
The Legal Framework

In India, it is mandatory under the law (as per the Registration of Births & Deaths Act, 1969 (External website that opens in a new window)) to register every death with the concerned State/UT Government within 21 days of its occurrence. The Government accordingly has provided for a well-defined system for registration of Death, with the Registrar General, India, at the centre and the Chief Registrars in States, running through district registrars to the village and town registrars at the periphery.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Death Certificate

A death can be reported and registered by the head of the family, in case it occurs in a house; by the medical in-charge if it occurs in a hospital; by the jail in-charge if it occurs in a jail; and by the headman of the village or the in-charge of the local police station in case the body is found deserted in that area.

To apply for a Death Certificate, you must first register the death. The death has to be registered with the concerned local authorities within 21 days of its occurrence, by filling up the form prescribed by the Registrar. Death Certificate is then issued after proper verification.

If a death is not registered within 21 days of its occurrence, permission from the Registrar/Area Magistrate, along with the fee prescribed in case of late registration, is required.

The application form in which you are required to apply is usually available with the area's local body authorities, or with the Registrar who maintains the Register of Deaths. You might also need to submit proof of birth of the deceased, an affidavit specifying the date and time of death, a copy of the ration card, and the required fee in the form of court fee stamps.

HOW TO Obtain a Tribe Certificate

2010-11-19T02:33:00.001+05:30

Scheduled Tribes as defined by the Law

Tribal population is found in various States and UTs of India. In the post-Independence period, all the tribal communities were grouped together as "Scheduled Tribes", under the Constitution.

The main criteria adopted for specifying communities as "Scheduled Tribes" include:

* Traditional occupation of a definite geographical area.
* Distinctive culture that includes a whole spectrum of tribal ways of life, i.e., language, customs, traditions, religious beliefs, arts and crafts, etc.
* Primitive traits depicting occupational pattern, economy, etc.
* Lack of educational and techno-economic development

The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State/ Union Territory is by a notified order of the President, after consultation with the State Government concerned. These orders can be modified subsequently only through an Act of Parliament. As per Article 342 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the State Governments concerned, has promulgated 9 orders so far, specifying the Scheduled Tribes in relation to the concerned State and Union Territories.

Know more about the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 (External website that opens in a new window).
What is a Tribe Certificate and Why Is it Needed?

A Tribe Certificate is the proof of ones belonging to a "Scheduled Tribe", as per the specifications mentioned in the Indian Constitution. The Government felt that the Scheduled Tribes need special encouragement and opportunities to progress at the same pace as the rest of the citizenry. As a result, as part of the Indian system of Protective Discrimination, there exist certain special privileges granted to this category of citizens, such as reservation of seats in the Legislatures and in the Government Service, waiving of a part or the whole of the fees for admission to schools and colleges, quotas in educational institutions, relaxation of upper age limits for applying to certain jobs,etc. To be able to avail these privileges, a citizen belonging to a Scheduled Tribe must be in possession of a valid Tribe Certificate.
How to Apply for a Tribe Certificate

People belonging to the tribes enlisted in the notified orders of the President can apply for obtaining a Tribe Certificate. Tribal development departments in some states provide certain online facilities such as downloading the concerned application form, details on tribal welfare schemes, etc., on their websites. Click on any of the States given below to access the 'Tribe Certificate' application form for that State.

HOW TO Obtain Caste Certificate

2010-11-19T02:29:00.002+05:30

What is a Caste Certificate and Why is it Needed?

A Caste Certificate is the proof of one's belonging to a particular caste, especially in case one belongs to any of the 'Scheduled Castes', as specified in the Indian Constitution. The Government felt that the Scheduled Castes and Tribes need special encouragement and opportunities to progress at the same pace as the rest of the citizenry. As a result, as part of the Indian system of Protective Discrimination, there exist certain special privileges granted to this category of citizens, such as reservation of seats in the Legislatures and in the Government Service, waiving off a part or the whole of the fees for admission to schools and colleges, quotas in educational institutions, relaxation of upper age limits for applying to certain jobs, etc. To be able to avail these privileges, a citizen belonging to a Scheduled Caste must be in possession of a valid Caste Certificate.
The Legal Framework

The statutory lists of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, in pursuance of Articles 341 and 342 of the Indian Constitution, were notified for the first time under the Constitution (Schedule Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950. These lists have been modified/amended/supplemented from time to time. On the reorganisation of the States, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes List (Modification) Order came into force from 29th October, 1956. Thereafter, a few other orders in respect of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes list in some individual States also came into force.

Know more about the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (External website that opens in a new window).
What You Need to Do to Get a Caste Certificate

The application forms are available either online or from the concerned local office in the City/Town/Village, which is usually the office of the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or of the Tehsil or Revenue Department. In case none of your family members have earlier been issued a Caste Certificate, a local enquiry is conducted before issuing the Certificate to you. Proof of residence in your State for a minimum specified period, an affidavit stating that you belong to a Scheduled Caste, and the specified court stamp fee are required at the time of application.

HOW TO Obtain Marriage Certificate

2010-11-19T02:27:00.002+05:30

What is a Marriage Certificate and Why is it Needed?

A Marriage Certificate is the proof of registration of a marriage. The need for a Marriage Certificate arises in case you need to prove that you are legally married to someone, for purposes like obtaining a passport, changing your maiden name, etc.
Legal Framework

In India, a marriage can be registered under either of the two Marriage Acts: the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (External website that opens in a new window) or the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (External website that opens in a new window). To be eligible for marriage, the minimum age limit is 21 for males and 18 for females. The parties to a Hindu marriage should be unmarried or divorced, or if previously married, the spouse by that marriage should not be alive. In addition, the parties should be physically and mentally healthy and must not be related in a way prohibited by the law.

The Hindu Marriage Act is applicable only to the Hindus, whereas the Special Marriage Act is applicable to all citizens of India.

The Hindu Marriage Act provides for registration of an already solemnised marriage. It does not provide for solemnisation of a marriage by the Registrar. The Special Marriage Act provides for solemnisation of a marriage as well as registration by a Marriage Officer.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Marriage Certificate
Under the Hindu Marriage Act:

Parties to the marriage have to apply to the Registrar in whose jurisdiction the marriage is solemnised or to the Registrar in whose jurisdiction either party to the marriage has been residing at least for six months immediately preceding the date of marriage. Both the parties have to appear before the Registrar along with their parents or guardians or other witnesses within one month from the date of marriage. There is a provision for condonation of delay up to 5 years, by the Registrar, and thereafter by the District Registrar concerned.
Under the Special Marriage Act:

The parties to the intended marriage have to give a notice to the Marriage Officer in whose jurisdiction at least one of the parties has resided for not less than 30 days prior to the date of notice. It should be affixed at some conspicuous place in his office. If either of the parties is residing in the area of another Marriage Officer, a copy of the notice should be sent to him for similar publication. The marriage may be solemnised after the expiry of one month from the date of publication of the notice, if no objections are received. If any objections are received, the Marriage Officer has to enquire into them and take a decision either to solemnise the marriage or to refuse it. Registration will be done after solemnisation of the marriage.

Any marriage already celebrated can also be registered under the Special Marriage Act after giving a public notice of 30 days, subject to conditions. However, as stated above, the bridegroom and the bride must have completed 21 years and 18 years of age respectively.

HOW TO Obtain Driving Licence

2010-11-19T02:19:00.002+05:30

What is a Driving Licence and Why is it Necessary?

A Driving Licence is an official document certifying that the holder is suitably qualified to drive a motor vehicle or vehicles. Under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (External website that opens in a new window) in India, no person can drive a motor vehicle in any public place unless he holds a valid Driving Licence issued to him, authorising him to drive a vehicle of that particular category.

In India, two kinds of Driving Licences are issued: Learner's Licence and Permanent Licence. Learner's Licence is valid only for six months. Permanent Licence can be availed only after the expiry of one month from the date of issuance of the Learner's Licence.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Driving Licence

A Learner's Licence is essential for obtaining a Permanent Licence. The eligibility for obtaining a Learner's Licence for a private motor vehicle for a vehicle of 50 CC engine capacity and without any gear, is 16 years (if the applicant's parents or guardians give their consent). The minimum age to apply for a permanent licence to drive a private motor vehicle is 18 years.

A person who is at least 20 years old and possesses a Learner's License can obtain a Licence for driving a commercial vehicle. Also, one has to be conversant with the traffic rules and regulations in all the cases.

For obtaining a Learner's Licence, you will need to apply in the prescribed format to the Local Transport Office in your region, along with your passport-sized photographs, proof of your age and residence, declaration of medical fitness and the required fee. After verification of your documents, you will have to go through the Learner's Test. Usually a handbook of traffic rules, signs and regulations is provided with the application form. On passing the Learner's Test, you will be issued a Learner's Licence. If you fail the test, you will be given a chance to take the test again.

For obtaining a Permanent Licence, you must have a valid Learner's Licence, and must apply after 30 days and within 180 days of issue of the Learner's Licence. You should be conversant about vehicle systems, driving, traffic rules regulations. You will be put through a driving test, for which you must bring a vehicle with you. On passing the test, you will be issued a Permanent Driving Licence.
International Driving Licence

The motor licensing authority also issues International Driving Licence to the citizens of India. Application for the International Driving Licence can be made to the licensing authority having jurisdiction over the area in which the holder of the driving licence ordinarily resides or carries on business, along with relevant documents. Citizens of India may drive in foreign countries with an International Driving Licence, which has the maximum validity of one year. Citizens are required to get their licence from the country they're visiting within one year period. Following documents are to be produced at the time of applying for an International Driving Permit :-

* Valid driving licence
* Attested copy of address proof
* Attested copy of Birth Certificate
* Valid passport
* Valid Visa
* Required Fees
* Two passport size photograph.

Human Development Reports 2009

2010-11-09T13:04:00.004+05:30

Human Development Reports 2009 on Kerala by
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

Human Development Report-Madapally PANCHAYAT

District Human Development Report Kannur

District Human Development Report 2009 Ernakulam district

District Human Development Report-Wayanad

District Human Development Report-Kottayam

Human Development Report 2009 by United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) on Kottathara PANCHAYAT

Courtesy: UNDP Cell ,Kerala State Planning Board

15 CRORE RUPEES CENTRAL Grant for WAYANAD-MsDP

2010-10-16T03:47:00.005+05:30

Programme for the Minority Concentration Districts

Fl .No. 10 (1)/2007-PP-I

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

11^th Floor, Paryavaran Bhavan,

CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,

New Delhi – 110003

Dated 31^st December, 2007

To,

The Principal Secretary/Secretary

Department of Minority Affairs/ dealing with minority welfare

Government of Orissa

Subject: Proposed multi-sectoral development programme for Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs)

Sir,

The Ministry of Minority Affairs is in the process of finalizing a multi-sectoral development programme for the identified 90 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) for addressing the ‘development deficits’ identified by a baseline survey which is being carried out by the regional institutes affiliated to the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

An outline of the proposed multi-sectoral development programme is enclosed. If you have any comments to offer, you may like to send it at the earliest.

Yours faithfully

Sd/-

(Ameising Luikham)

Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India

List of Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs)

Sl.No.	State	District
1	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Niccobar
2	Arunachal Pradesh	East Kameng
3	Arunachal Pradesh	Lower Subansiri
4	Arunachal Pradesh	Changlang
5	Arunachal Pradesh	Tirap
6	Arunachal Pradesh	Tawang
7	Arunachal Pradesh	West Kameng
8	Arunachal Pradesh	Papum Pare
9	Assam	North Cachar Hills
10	Assam	Kokrajhar
11	Assam	Dhubri
12	Assam	Goapara
13	Assam	Bongaigaon
14	Assam	Barpeta
15	Assam	Darrang
16	Assam	Marigaon
17	Assam	Nagaon
18	Assam	Cachar
19	Assam	Karimganj
20	Assam	Hailakandi
21	Assam	Kamrup
22	Bihar	Araria
23	Bihar	Kishanganj
24	Bihar	Purnia
25	Bihar	Katihar
26	Bihar	Sitamarhi
27	Bihar	Pashchim Champaran
28	Bihar	Darbhanga
29	Delhi	North East
30	Haryana	Gurgaon
31	Haryana	Sirsa
32	Jammu & Kashmir	Leh (Ladakh)
33	Jharkhand	Ranchi
34	Jharkhand	Gumia
35	Jharkhand	Sahibganj
36	Jharkhand	Pakaur
37	Karnataka	Gulbarga
38	Karnataka	Bidar
39	Kerala	Wayanad
40	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal
41	Maharashtra	Buldana
42	Maharashtra	Washim
43	Maharashtra	Hingoli
44	Maharashtra	Parbhani
45	Manipur	Senapati
46	Manipur	Temengiong
47	Manipur	Churachandpur
48	Manipur	Ukhrul
49	Manipur	Chandel
50	Manipur	Thoubal
51	Meghalaya	West Garo Hills
52	Mizoram	Lawngtlai
53	Mizoram	Mamit
54	Sikkim	North
55	Orissa	Gajapati
56	Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow
57	Uttar Pradesh	Saharanpur
58	Uttar Pradesh	Muzaffarnagar
59	Uttar Pradesh	Meerut
60	Uttar Pradesh	Baghpat
61	Uttar Pradesh	Ghaziabad
62	Uttar Pradesh	Bulandshahar
63	Uttar Pradesh	Budaun
64	Uttar Pradesh	Barabanki
65	Uttar Pradesh	Kheri
66	Uttar Pradesh	Shahjahanpur
67	Uttar Pradesh	Moradabad
68	Uttar Pradesh	Rampur
69	Uttar Pradesh	Jyotiba Phule Nagar
70	Uttar Pradesh	Bareilly
71	Uttar Pradesh	Pilibhit
72	Uttar Pradesh	Bahraich
73	Uttar Pradesh	Shrawasti
74	Uttar Pradesh	Balrampur
75	Uttar Pradesh	Siddharthnagar
76	Uttar Pradesh	Bijnor
77	Uttaranchal	Udham Singh Nagar
78	Uttaranchal	Hardwar
79	West Bengal	Uttar Dinajpur
80	West Bengal	Dakshin Dinajpur
81	West Bengal	Maldah
82	West Bengal	Murshidabad
83	West Bengal	Birbhum
84	West Bengal	Nadia
85	West Bengal	South 24-Parganas
86	West Bengal	Barddhaman
87	West Bengal	Koch Bihar
88	West Bengal	Haora
89	West Bengal	North 24-Parganas
90	West Bengal	Kolkata

Brief outline of the proposed Multi-Sectoral District Development

Programme for Minority Concentration Districts

(The proposed programme is under consideration for approval)

1. Background
90 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) having a substantial minority population, which are relatively backward and falling behind the national average in terms of socio-economic and basic amenities indicators, have been identified based on population figures and the backwardness parameters of 2001 Census.
1.2. A baseline survey has been assigned to the Indian Institute of Social Science Research, New Delhi to identify the ‘development deficits’ of these districts. The survey is being carried out by the research institutes affiliated with the ICSSR.
1.3. The focus of this programme will be on rural and semi-rural areas of the identified 90 minority concentration districts. The urban centres falling in the MCDs is expected to be addressed by a separate approach and strategy for towns. The lists of these districts are in Annexure-I.
1.4. Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) who have been notified as minority communities under Section 2 (c ) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
2. Multi-Sectoral development Programme (MsDP)
2.1. The proposed Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) for Minority Concentration Districts is an area development programme. There are other such programmes of the Centre like RSVY/BRGF and BADP, but they do not specifically target minorities who are one of the marginalized sections of the society. Two committees, one at the district level and the other at state level, would be responsible for eliminating duplication.
2.2. The programme aims at improving the socio-economic parameters of basic amenities for reducing imbalances in the MCDs during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period.
2.3. ‘Development deficits’ identified by a baseline survey would be made up through a district specific plan for provision of better infrastructure for school and secondary education, sanitation, pucca housing, drinking water and electricity supply, besides beneficiary oriented schemes for creating income generating activities, to bring these districts at par with the national average. Absolutely critical infrastructure, linkages like connecting roads, basic health infrastructure, ICDS centres, skill development and marketing facilities required for improving living conditions and income generating activities and catalyzing the growth process would be eligible for inclusion in the plan. The multi-sectoral district development plan of a district have to be prepared in such a manner that these districts are saturated with schemes included in the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities within the Eleventh Plan period.
3. Multi-sectoral Development Plan (MsD Plan)
A multi-sectoral Development Plan shall be worked out for each minority concentration districts by the District Level Committee concerned based on the baseline survey report.
(a) The District Level Committee for implementation of the Prime Minister’s 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities, shall also serve as the committee for implementation of this programme. It shall prepare a MsD Plan with a district profile bringing out the development deficits identified by the survey, indicate the strategy for addressing the deficits, propose projects/work to fill the ‘development deficits’ either by topping up the funds of ongoing schemes/programmes of the Central Government or propose projects which are not catered to by existing schemes/programmes of the Central and State Governments and indicate the year-wise financial and physical phasing for implementation during Eleventh Five year Plan period.
(b) The filtering mechanism of the District Level Committee should ensure that there is no duplication with other public-funded schemes with similar objectives being implemented in the targeted districts.
(c) It should be ensured that the funds provided for the MCDs are additional resources for these districts do not substitute State Government funds already flowing to the districts. To prevent diversion of funds from MCDs, the flow of funds to the district concerned in the previous year will be taken as benchmark.
(d) The programme will be implanted by the line departments/agencies assigned projects by the Department in the State/UT dealing with minority affairs/welfare. Panchayati Raj Institutions/urban local bodies would be involved in the implementation of the MsD Plan wherever the mechanism is established. The State may, however, decide to execute the project through any qualified, reputed, experienced agency, including renowned and widely accepted NGOs, justification for which should be mentioned in the proposal.
(e) Creation of new posts under this programme is strictly prohibited. It would be the responsibility of the State Government/UT administration to ensure that staff required for operationalisation of assets proposed to be created under this programme is already available or will be provided by them.
(f) There would be no change in guidelines of any existing scheme under implementation in the said district for which this scheme will provide additional funds. As far as possible, the focus of the programme will be on providing appropriate social and economic infrastructure rather than targeting individual beneficiaries. In case schemes for individual benefits are taken up under the programme, there will be no divergence from existing norms for selection of beneficiaries from the list of BPL families in the district, so that benefits from the additional funds flow to all BPL families and not selectively to families of minority community.
4. Detailed Project Reports (DPR):
(a) DPR is to be prepared only for physical infrastructure project with an estimated project cost exceeding Rs. 10.00 crore, which has been accepted in principle by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. This will not apply to topping up of funds for ongoing central schemes required for saturating the target/gap in the district.
(b) DPRs shall be prepared by the line department concerned of the State/UT or through the agency which will be executing the project.
5. State and District Level Committees
The State Level Committee and the District Level Committee constituted for implementation of the Prime Minister’s New 1 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities District Level Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and the Deputy Commission/Collector respectively shall serve as such committees for this programme. The district committee shall prepare the development plan for MCD. Both the district and state committees shall ensure that there is no duplication of schemes, funds are not diverted, the level of funding is not lesser than that of the previous year, funds of this programme is an additionality and monitor the implementation of the plan.
6. Empowered Committee in the Ministry of Minority Affairs
A ‘MsDP Empowered Committee’ in the Ministry of Minority Affairs will appraise, recommend and approve the projects in the MsD Plans.
7. Release of Funds
Financial assistance will be sanctioned to the State Government/UT administration concerned on 100% grant basis in suitable installments linked with the satisfactory progress made as per the sanction, approved Multi-sectoral Development Plan and DPR. Funds under the programme would be released to the States/UTs only against the approved district development plans, which would be prepared based on the ‘development deficits’ indicated by the baseline survey of the district. Once the proposal is approved for support by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the first installment will be released. The release will be subject to a commitment from the State Government/UT administration that they will do the following:-
(a) Constitute the State Level Committee for implementation of the 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities, if not already done.
(b) Constitute the District Level Committee for implementation of the 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities, if not already done.
(c) Notify a department in the State/UT to deal with clear responsibilities for schemes of minority welfare.
(d) Set up a cell in that department exclusively to look after the implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of this programme. This cell will be IT enabled.
(e) Ensure that the funds provided for the MCDs are additional resources for these districts do not substitute State Government funds already flowing to the districts. To prevent diversion of funds from MCDs the flow of funds to the district concerned in the previous year will be taken as a benchmark.
(f) Agree to provide the State share in such central schemes/programmes which are being topped up to saturate the requirement in the district.
(g) Agree to operate and maintain the physical assets created under this programme.
(ii) The first installment would not exceed 30% of the approved plan cost unless there are special circumstances and the Empowered Committee is satisfied, but in no case can it exceed 50% of the total approval.
(iii) Release of funds for ongoing projects, i.e., the second and subsequent installments will depend on the progress-both in financial and physical terms- of the implementation of the project subject to 60% utilization of funds of last release and full utilization of all prior releases, if any.
(iv) Request for release of subsequent installments of funds submitted by the State must be accompanied with:
· Utilization Certificates (UCs)
· Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs)
· Photographs of the works completed from earlier releases
· Work plan for the requisitioned amount with milestones and time frame
(v) UCs shall be submitted in the prescribed proforma only when the expenditure on the project has been incurred by the implementing agency. Secretary of the Department in the State Government dealing with minority affairs should sign the UC.
8. Administrative cost:
An administrative cost of 2.00% percent of the programme cost would be kept aside for setting up a cell and for purchase of office equipment like computers, telephone/fax/internet lines, engaging qualified skilled personnel to enter data, process, analyse, monitor, retrieve and transfer data in the district, State and the Ministry.
This provision will also be used for evaluation and monitoring of the scheme, through outside reputed institutions/agencies engaged by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India or by the State Governments/Union Territory administration.

Unique Identification Number -UID

2010-09-30T14:34:00.003+05:30

India has launched a huge national identity scheme aimed at cutting fraud and improving access to state benefits.

India's first 'Unique Identity' village

Using biometric methods, including an iris scan, the system will log details of India's population of more than one billion people on a central database.
It was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi in western India.
The data will be stored online in what India says will be the biggest such national database in the world.
The unique identification (UID) programme will help those in poor, marginalised communities who find it difficult to access public services and benefits because they do not have official records, officials say.
The government expects to give a UID number to every Indian citizen within four years.
Birth registration is not universal and it is hoped that the database will give an accurate picture of Indian society.

'Special moment'

The new ID scheme was launched in the village of Tembhili in Nandurbar district of western Maharashtra state.
The government says better ID will mean benefits are delivered more fairly
The ID numbers were handed out to 10 people, including three children.
The tiny village of 1,500 people was colourfully decorated and the villagers were excited to see Congress chief Sonia Gandhi - who smiled and waved at them - although few locals knew what the scheme was about;says reports from Tembhili village.
Prime Minister Singh described the start of the process as a "special moment" that would empower the most marginalised in society.
"It will help strengthen the rights of the downtrodden and the poorest, including women," AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
Mrs Gandhi described the launch as a "new beginning" for India.
Billionaire IT expert Nandan Nilekani, who was drafted in by the government to run the project, was also present at the function.
Under the scheme, all Indians will be issued a 12-digit ID number which they will use to receive welfare handouts, to apply for other documents like passports and even to open bank accounts, the SPB Village Resource Centers Coordinator in Kerala says.
As well as iris scans, photographs, fingerprints and other personal information will be collected and then stored on a vast central database.
The government hopes this will prevent corrupt officials from faking the names of people seeking welfare benefits or access to education - potentially saving billions of dollars.
Critics, however, complain that the project itself will cost billions of dollars and are also worried about the authorities collecting so much personal information.
Others say there is no guarantee that the scheme really will make much of a difference to India's corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy. Some say the focus should be on improving services for the poor, rather than access to them.
UID is a unique identification 12-digit number for all residents of India. It will store basic information such as photograph, blood group, ten fingerprints and iris of an individual. UIDAI will generate a random number without classification based on caste, creed, religion or geographical location.

EMPLOYEMENT EXCHANGE by govt of Kerala JALAKAM

2010-07-04T03:18:00.008+05:30

Opportunities For Youth- Click on the Header Link

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Free Schemes by Govt of Kerala-Small Farm Mechanisation

2010-06-14T00:33:00.003+05:30

Small Farm Mechanisation: Kerala


Particulars	Description
Name of the Scheme	Small Farm Mechanisation
Sponsored by	State Government
Funding Pattern	100% State Government
Ministry/Department	Agriculture Department
Description	The primary objective of the scheme with total outlay of Rs. 50 lakh is to give special support for development of machines suited to garden land agriculture, import of equipments suited for undulating terrain as well as to support R&D on small farm mechanization. The larger objective of the scheme is to initiate a comprehensive mechanization project in the State.
Beneficiaries	Individual,Community,
Benefits
Benefit Type	Material,
Details	The object of the scheme is to provide credit for the purchase of new tractor/new tractor for 2nd time/tractor rennovation/repair/replacement of spares/small tractors (GOI ) scheme/power tiller/thresher/power sprayer
Eligibility criteria	Any farmer
How to Avail	By contacting the Agriculture department, local self government institutions
Validity of the Scheme
Introduced On	01 / 04 / 2009
Valid Upto	31 / 03 / 2012
Reference URL	http://www.keralalandbank.org/html/arfarm.htm

Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY)

2010-06-14T00:26:00.001+05:30

The Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY) is a unified Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched a fresh in lieu of the erstwhile Urban Poverty Alleviation Programmes viz., Nehru Rojgar Yojana (NRY), Prime Minister's Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Programme (PMIUPEP) and Urban Basic Services for the Poor (UBSP).

Objectives :

Gainful Employment to Urban Poor, Unemployed and Underemployed.
Setting up self Employment ventures and provision of wage-employment.
Community Empowerment through creation of suitable community structures on UBSP pattern.
Capability Building, Women's Group for small enterprises, Women's Thrift-cum-Credit Societies.

Implementation of SJSRY begins from 1st December 1997 under funding pattern of Centre and State in 75:25 basis. The Scheme envisages in two key components :

The Urban Self Employment Programme (USEP), and
The Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP).

The Urban Self Employment Programme (USEP)

This programme will have three distinct parts :

Assistance to individual urban poor beneficiaries for setting up gainful self employment ventures.
Assistance to groups of urban poor women for setting up gainful self employment ventures. This sub-scheme is called "The Scheme for Development of Women and Children in the Urban Areas (DWCUA)".
Training of beneficiaries, potential beneficiaries and other persons associated with the urban employment programme for up gradation and acquisition of vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Components :

Self employment through setting up Micro enterprises and skill development

This programme encourages under employed and unemployed urban youth to set up small enterprises relating to servicing, petty business and manufacturing, for which there is a lot of potential in urban areas. Local skills and local crafts are encouraged for this purpose. To avoid duplication with the ongoing Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), this component of SJSRY is confined to below poverty line beneficiaries who have got education up to ninth standard with emphasis on those given a higher priority on the basis of the non-economic criteria. The maximum unit cost will be Rs.50,000/- and the maximum allowable subsidy will be 15% of the project cost, subject to a limit o Rs.7,500. The beneficiary is required to contribute 5% of the project cost as margin money.

Development of Women and Children in Urban Areas (DWCUA)

This Scheme is distinguished by the special incentive extended to urban poor women who decide to set up self employment ventures in a group as opposed to individual effect. Group of urban poor women shall take up an economic activity suited to their skill, training, aptitude, and local conditions. Besides generation on income, this group strategy shall strive to empower the urban poor women by making them independent as also providing a facilitating atmosphere for self-employment.

Medical Emergency Ambulance Services Kerala - 108

2010-05-24T03:33:00.004+05:30

Health Department of the Kerala Government has launched the Kerala Emergency Medical Services Project (KEMP), a project supported by National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) to render emergency medical service to those who meet with accidents, health emergencies and disaster related mishaps.

Doctors and Police Officers will be assisting the agents in the KEMP Call Centre. The 18 seater call centre has two ISDN lines to manage 30 incoming calls. The Automatic Vehicle location and tracking software is equipped with GPS, GIS & GPRS Network to enable immediate response to a distress call.These advanced life saving ambulances have the latest equipments like ventilator, defibrillator with monitor, foetal monitor, etc. to tackle all kinds of emergencies including cardiology and pregnancy related problems. Each ambulance is priced at Rs 32 lakh and have Modern trauma equipments like auto loading stretcher and scoop stretcher are also available to handle the person at the accident site to avert further injuries. The service of a trained emergency medical technician will be available in this ambulance which confirms to the CEN1789 European Union Standards for medical transportation vehicles.

KEMP is a pilot project in Thiruvananthapuram district with a fleet of 25 advanced life saving ambulances covering the rural and urban areas of the district. This pre-hospital Emergency Service is accessible to all the people through a 24x7 toll free number 108. When a call is received, the nearest ambulance will be located by the control room and will be dispatched immediately to the location with the help of the information provided by the caller and with Geographical Information System.

The Mumbai-based Ziquitza Healthcare is providing all the services for this emergency care, including the deployment of the staff and their salary. Ziquitza was selected by the government for out-sourcing through a tender process.According to Pradeep Kumar, Chief Engineer, NHRM, the project is being launched at a cost of 10 crores. The NHRM will bear 60% of the operational cost and the remaining 40% by the Kerala Government. With the commissioning of KEMP, Kerala will become the first state in the country to have a state-owned emergency service provider for trauma care victims.

Kerala Budget Highlights 2010

2010-04-21T01:40:00.002+05:30

* Liquor to cost more

* Tax on foreign liquor raised to 10%

* Wine and beer to cost less

* 10% tan reduction for wine and beer

* Laws to b amended to get hold of Munnar town from Tata

* 20 crore for novel Munnar project to be implemented under development authority

* Employees working in the traditional sector to get rice for Rs 2

* Around thirty five lakh families would be benefited by this scheme

* Five hundred crores has been allocated for this

* National Employment Guarantee scheme would be extended to urban areas also.

* Twenty crores has been allocated for this

* Initial works related to Express railway corridor would begin this year

* Energy auditing would be executed for industries

* No special schemes are recommended to low Revenue Deficit

* Revenue deficit would remain at 19%

* Special projects would be implemented focusing women

* Waiting rooms for women at public places

* Medical and counseling facility scheme for women

* One hundred and twenty CI offices to be made women friendly

* 622 crore for Agriculture sector

* Agriculture calendar for Kuttanad

* Directions to maintain the environmental balance of Kuttanad region

* LNG terminal to be commissioned in 2012

* Company worth Rs 1000 crore asset to be formed for Kannur airport

* 125 crore for Vizhinjam project

* Global tender would be called for Vizhinjam project

* Government to execute Smartcity project

* Inforpark to give employment to 1 lakh people

* Infopark would be developed ; 150 acres of land would undertaken for this

* 412 crores for IT, tourism

* 20 crores for Ayankali employment guarantee scheme

* Welfare pension raised to Rs 300

* Stamp duty relaxed for building construction

* Pojects to protect mangroves and kavu

* 50 crore assistance for Kudumbasree units

* Mountain highway construction to begin this year

* 50 crore for works related to Kochi metro

* Seri culture at Vembanadu lake

* 500 crore to encourage paddy cultivation

* House and power for all coastal residents

* 118 crore for animal protection

* Pre paid system at all government offices to contain energy production

* 10 crore for Mullaperiyar new dam study

* 114 crore for water transport

* Surcharge removed; stamp duty relaxed

* 10 new fire and rescue service units to be set up

* 37 crore for renovating school buildings

* New civil stations to come up at Mathilakam and Aroor

* 57 crores for Handicrafts

* 5 crores for Science and Technology Mueseum

* E-filing system to be implemented at check posts

* KSRTC to purchase 1000 buses

* Luxury tax for DTH

* Tax removed for imported sugar

* Income Tax department to begin SMS alerts

* 11/2 crores for land banking system

* 139 crores for Tsunami rehabilitation

* Beverages Corporation to begin de-addiction centres

* 9 crores for Rescue Force

* 14 crores for Public Relation department

* 15 crores for new housing projects

* Drinking water projects 1058 crore

* Assistance for Kannur university and Agriculture university

* Fund for all university libraries

* 11 crores for Polytechnic

* 21/2 crores for Pollution Control Board

* 67 crores for National Games

* 20 lakh each for PT Usha and Mercy Kuttan Sports Academies

* 21 crore for Health Education Directorate

* More land would be undertaken for the development of Karipur airport

* UGC scale salary for college lecturers from March

Kuttanad Package -Kerala

2010-04-21T00:59:00.005+05:30

With Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal expressing his Ministry’s willingness to support projects worth over Rs.1,000 crore that came under the Flood Management Programme, the Kuttanad Package, based on the recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Committee, appears to have overcome the teething troubles confronting it for the past nearly two years.

Speaking at the conclusion of a two-day fact-finding mission to Kuttanand, spread over Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, Mr. Bansal said a major chunk of the projects involved the strengthening of the outer bund. (Outer bund is a mud wall that separates the water in a lake and below-sea-level paddy fields.) While the expression of willingness to support the task did not mention the amount involved, the amount estimated by the Swaminathan committee for the development of the outer bund comes to Rs.831 crore.

The Kuttanad Package, Fr. Peelianickal ,executive director of the Kuttanad Development Council (KDC) says, was designed as a special package aimed at solving the multifarious issues, including environmental, technical and man-made challenges, confronted by the region. But Central officials, instead of surpassing usual norms for Central schemes since this is a special package, are trying to allocate funds for the package as if it were any other regular project, he says.

“Most unfortunate has been the allocation of funds for mechanisation. Dr. Swaminathan recommended Rs. 85 crore. The Centre allowed a mere Rs.13.65 crore! It has allowed only Rs.1.5 lakh for a combine harvester, when the actual price is Rs. 20 lakh,” Fr. Peelianickal points out.

Further, various projects for infrastructure development including flood management measures and bund strengthening, suggested by Dr. Swaminathan and worth a total of Rs.1,220 crore, have been put aside by the Centre, saying that these could not be included in any existing Central scheme.

“This is unjustifiable, because flood management in Kuttanad is different from the rest of the country because this region exists below sea level.

Canal modernisation

The Ministry would the projects for the modernisation of the Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal, the development of C and D blocks, the Chithira kayal and Rani kayal, and the modernisation of orumuttus (saltwater regulators), including the construction of 33 permanent ones. In accordance with the Swaminathan commission report, these projects together would amount to Rs.363 crore.

The task relating to the wetland reclamation connected with Onattukara and Pattanakkad and the development and deepening of canals would be finalised only after the State government finalised the agency to hold the studies connected with the project, the Minister said. The government had earlier decided to entrust the study to the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management. However, with the formation of a special circle for the implementation of the Kuttanad Package, the Water Resources Department has expressed its willingness to carry out the studies so that much of the procedural delays could be done away with.

Mr. Bansal said his Ministry would like to expedite the entire work at the quickest possible time and would complete the formalities “as and when we receive the detailed project reports.”

Meanwhile, Kerala Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran said the State government was of the view that detailed reports of projects worth Rs.200 crore could be finalised and submitted for consideration of the Central authorities during the current fiscal. Two detailed project reports amounting to Rs.74 crore had already been submitted to the Central Water Commission for approval, he said.

Bund survey

Mr. Premachandran pointed out that a survey of more than 2,500 km of the outer bund, out of the total 4,196 km, had been completed. The implementation of the project would gather momentum in the coming months and the preparation of the reports and the survey would go hand in hand.

A major impediment in the implementation of the Kuttanand Package had been the works connected with the construction and strengthening of bunds that were projected as ‘projects for promoting infrastructure for paddy cultivation.’ However, the Central government appears to have taken a proactive approach to the whole issue by including the construction and strengthening of bunds as part of the Flood Management Programme. This would enable the State government to avail itself of Central assistance at a 75:25 ratio, with the Central government chipping in 75 per cent of the expenditure.

Mr. Premachandran said the State government would submit a proposal to declare Kuttanand as a flood-prone area to the Planning Commission.

The unique ecosystem of Kuttanad was akin to the Sundarbans which has been declared flood-prone. This would help to get financial assistance at a 90:10 ratio with the Central government taking the majority burden.

The Union Minister was accompanied by S. Manoharan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources; M.E. Haque, Commissioner (Policy Planning), Ministry of Water Resources; and T.K. Sivarajan, Director, Central Water Commission (Coimbatore centre). The Kerala side included K. Jayakumar, Additional Chief Secretary; R.C. Goyal, Agriculture Production Commissioner; M.N. Gunavardhanan, Secretary, Water Resources; Lathika, Chief Engineer, Irrigation; and others. Mr. Jayakumar made a power-point presentation to the Union Minister on the unique ecosystem of Kuttanad.

Pepper Package Wayanad -Outlooks & Concerns

2010-04-21T00:42:00.007+05:30

Rejuvenating the pepper production in the district, the Central Commerce Ministry will implement a five year project through the Spices Board in the district, M.I. Shanavas MP added. The project envisages the rejuvenation and planting of new saplings in the conventional pepper producing areas to increase pepper production in the district considerably, he added.

Apart from Wayanad of Kerala, the project will be implemented in the Northern States such as Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur. The project envisages to spread pepper cultivation in 22,500 hectares of land. The Central ministry will provide Rs. 53.28 crore as subsidy for the project and Wayanad will get as much as Rs. 47.68 crore as subsidy, Mr. Shanavas added. Of the 25,000 hectares planning to implement the project, 20,000 hectares are in Wayanad district.

The production of pepper has declined considerably in the country owing to climatic changes and various diseases that affected the pepper vines in recent years. The total production of pepper in the country in the 2001 -02 financial year was 80,000 tonnes against 50,000 in 2005-06. In the total production of pepper 80 to 90 per cent is contributed by the State. The pepper is mainly grown in Idukki and Wayanad districts. Owing to the drastic decline in the pepper production, the lands which were utilised for pepper cultivation also shrank considerably. Pepper cultivation had been spread in 44,908 hectares of land in the 2001-02 period in the State and annual production was 17,915 tonnes against 36,488 hectares and 9,828 respectively in 2005-06 period. According to the latest reports, the land utilised for pepper cultivation shrank to 25,000 hectares and the production came down to 5,000 tonnes per year. As per the project, as many as 216 lakh new pepper vine saplings, including the conventional pepper species and hybrid species will be planted. As many as 540 pepper vine saplings can be planted in each hectare at a cost of Rs. 30, 000 and half the cost will be availed as subsidy.

As a part of the project, pest control management units and vermin compost units will also be set up. As much as Rs.1 crore will be spent on the training of farmers for pest management. An expert team consisting of 35 members of the Spices Board will supervise the project .The project aimed to increase the pepper production from 565 gram to 1,380 gram per vine.

Outlook:-

Over 500 years ago, Vasco da Gama, so goes the story, asked the King here if he could take home some Malabar pepper, the best in the world. The monarch consented. Were they around today, neither Vasco da Gama nor the King could certify that the pepper found here is from the Malabar.

"This place is drowning in third-rate imported pepper," says E.M. Samad. He is a young trader shuttling between Wayanad and Delhi. "Cheap, low grade imports are killing our pepper. This stuff is from Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other places." This massive inflow has savaged the growers here and knocked the bottom out of the district's economy. "Wayanad farmers have lost Rs. 1,500 crores on pepper alone since 2001," says P.A. Muhammed, convenor of the South Indian Farmers Coordination Committee. "Disease and drought have sharpened the crisis."

Cheap imports

The cheap imports have proved costly. "The import lobby brings in these large amounts of bad pepper," says Mr. Samad. "It mixes this with Wayanad pepper (which is premium grade) and exports it to Europe and elsewhere for huge profits. This triggered the price crash and killed the farmers of Wayanad." The district saw 150 farmers or more take their lives in 2004. Most of them pepper and coffee growers, all of them deep in debt. The spice of life now carries a whiff of death.

"As it is, production costs quadrupled in the past few years," says K.M. Thomas. His five-member family works a four-acre plot in the worst-hit region of Pulpally. "This was our mainstay. Now we earn less from each acre than we invest in it." Pepper prices - Rs. 27,000 a quintal a few years ago - fell to just over Rs. 5,000 a quintal by 2004. Or Rs. 50 a kilo. Debts rose as prices sank. And credit dried up. In Pulpally, thriving farmers once owned hundreds of motor vehicles. Now many of these are off the roads, sold or lost in debt repayment.

"Import duties needed"

V. Baby was famous as the district's "model farmer." Indeed, he had won the "Best Farmer Award" from banks here happy with his prompt loan repayment. Then came the price crash.

"Pulpally pepper is the best in the world," says Mr. Baby with pride. "But this inferior Sri Lankan product is hurting us like anything." As prices slipped, the model farmer found himself over half a million rupees in debt. Deeply hurting for a man proud of his fine record. And without credit, it is hard to come out of it. "The Government should impose duties on these imports," he says. "And there should be a five-year moratorium on loan repayment."

However, much of what passes as "Sri Lankan pepper" is really from many nations. It just comes via Sri Lanka. That country's output at the time the price slide began in 2001 was just around 7,800 tonnes. About half of this was locally consumed. Yet, Indian "imports from Sri Lanka" in the same period were almost higher than that nation's production!

"There is zero duty levied on such imports from SAARC countries," points out M.P. Veerendrakumar. He is the Lok Sabha member from here and a former Union Labour Minister. "So all this third rate pepper is routed through Sri Lanka. How can they export more than they produce? Multinationals and cartels are rigging both the flow and the price of pepper."

Drop in output

With prices smashed by the imports, output sank. Adding to the crisis was the onset of Quick Wilt disease and other problems. "Four years ago, I harvested 70 quintals of pepper," says farmer K.I. Matthew in Mullankolly. "In 2004, that fell to seven quintals."

Locals believe much damage might have been caused by inferior imported species entering the production chain. And by the reckless use of dubious seed varieties that crowd the market.

There is no relief. "Because ours are cash crops, there are no concessions," says K.N. Subramanian. He is a district leader of the Karshaka Sangham (a unit of the All-Indian Kisan Sabha) and himself a small farmer. "The compensation levels are crazy. A dead banana tree gets Rs. 50. A destroyed pepper vine fetches Rs. 40, though pepper is a long-term crop. One you can earn from for half a century."

Pepper from here has long been a big foreign exchange earner. Kerala accounts for 90 per cent of India's production. During 2003, Indian exports fell to 17,200 tonnes, a fall of 31 per cent from 2002. But black pepper remained the most favoured spice in the globe. The world consumes more of it than perhaps all other spices combined. Yet India's share of the trade has dived. And its imports have soared. Vietnam has emerged the globe's unlikely top producer.

Kerala's response has been to bureaucratise everything. "The idea was that the government would buy pepper at Rs. 75 a kg from distressed farmers," says Kozhikode-based journalist K.A. Shaji. "For this, farmers wishing to sell pepper must now have the local village officer certify that it was grown on their own land. This could take weeks. And sometimes the officers demand bribes. Then the government procurement agency has to verify it too. Next, the agency appoints an `expert' to conduct a `pepper vine census' on the farmer's land.

"Only farmers with two hectares or less will get help. And only those who have got no government aid in four years. Which rules out the families of those who committed suicide in despair! It would be far simpler to check the imports at the port of entry than to try and police thousands of farms. But this is the system now in place."

"It's a mess," says Mr. Veerendrakumar. "The government's approach has failed totally." He points to the need for "geographical indicators," which would specify where the pepper is from. And "the regulation of imports. This re-mixing of Wayanad pepper with low quality stuff is ruining our export markets."

TOLLFREE NUMBERS INDIA

2010-03-29T16:22:00.004+05:30

Airlines

Indian Airlines -1800 180 1407
Jet Airways - 1800 22 5522
Spice Jet - 1800 180 3333
Air India -- 1800 22 7722
Kingfisher - 1800 180 0101
============ ========= ========= =====
Banks
ABN AMRO -1800 11 2224
Canara Bank - 1800 44 6000
Citibank - 1800 44 2265
Corporation Bank - 1800 443 555
Development Credit Bank - 1800 22 5769
HDFC Bank - 1800 227 227
ICICI Bank - 1800 333 499
ICICI Bank NRI - 1800 22 4848
IDBI Bank - 1800 11 6999
Indian Bank - 1800 425 1400
ING Vysya - 1800 44 9900
Kotak Mahindra Bank - 1800 22 6022
Lord Krishna Bank - 1800 11 2300
Punjab National Bank - 1800 122 222
State Bank of India - 1800 44 1955

United Bank 1800 1033 470

Syndicate Bank - 1800 44 6655

============ ========= ========= =====
Automobiles
Mahindra Scorpio -1800 22 6006
Maruti - 1800 111 515
Tata Motors - 1800 22 5552
Windshield Experts - 1800 11 3636
============ ========= ========= =====
Computers/IT
Adrenalin -1800 444 445
AMD - 1800 425 6664
Apple Computers - 1800 444 683
Canon - 1800 333 366
Cisco Systems - 1800 221 777
Compaq - HP - 1800 444 999
Data One Broadband - 1800 424 1800
Dell - 1800 444 026
Epson - 1800 44 0011
eSys - 3970 0011
Genesis Tally Academy - 1800 444 888
HCL - 1800 180 8080
IBM - 1800 443 333
Lexmark - 1800 22 4477
Marshal's Point - 1800 33 4488
Microsoft - 1800 111 100
Microsoft Virus Update - 1901 333 334
Seagate - 1800 180 1104
Symantec - 1800 44 5533
TVS Electronics - 1800 444 566
WeP Peripherals - 1800 44 6446
Wipro - 1800 333 312
Xerox - 1800 180 1225
Zenith - 1800 222 004
============ ========= ========= =====
Indian Railway Enquiries
Indian Railway General Enquiry 131,139
Indian Railway Central Enquiry 139
Indian Railway Reservation 131
Indian Railway Railway Reservation Enquiry 1345,1335,1330
Indian Railway Centralised Railway Enquiry 1330/1/2/3/4/ 5/6/7/8/9 & 139
============ ========= ========= ========= ========= =====
Couriers/Packers & Movers
ABT Courier -1800 44 8585
AFL Wizz - 1800 22 9696
Agarwal Packers & Movers - 1800 11 4321
Associated Packers P Ltd - 1800 21 4560
DHL - 1800 111 345
FedEx - 1800 22 6161
Goel Packers & Movers - 1800 11 3456
UPS - 1800 22 7171
============ ========= ========= =========
Home Appliances
Aiwa/Sony -1800 11 1188
Anchor Switches - 1800 22 7979
Blue Star - 1800 22 2200
Bose Audio - 1800 11 2673
Bru Coffee Vending Machines - 1800 44 7171
Daikin Air Conditioners - 1800 444 222
DishTV - 1800 12 3474
Faber Chimneys - 1800 21 4595
Godrej - 1800 22 5511
Grundfos Pumps - 1800 33 4555
LG - 1901 180 9999
Philips - 1800 22 4422
Samsung - 1800 113 444
Sanyo - 1800 11 0101
Voltas - 1800 33 4546
WorldSpace Satellite Radio - 1800 44 5432
============ ========= ========= =========
Investments/ Finance
CAMS -1800 44 2267
Chola Mutual Fund - 1800 22 2300
Easy IPO's - 3030 5757
Fidelity Investments - 1800 180 8000
Franklin Templeton Fund - 1800 425 4255
J M Morgan Stanley - 1800 22 0004
Kotak Mutual Fund - 1800 222 626
LIC Housing Finance - 1800 44 0005
SBI Mutual Fund - 1800 22 3040
Sharekhan - 1800 22 7500
Tata Mutual Fund - 1800 22 0101
============ ========= ========= ====
Travel
Club Mahindra Holidays -1800 33 4539
Cox & Kings - 1800 22 1235
God TV Tours - 1800 442 777
Kerala Tourism - 1800 444 747
Kumarakom Lake Resort - 1800 44 5030
Raj Travels & Tours - 1800 22 9900
Sita Tours - 1800 111 911
SOTC Tours - 1800 22 3344
============ ========= ========= ====
Healthcare
Best on Health -1800 11 8899
Dr Batras - 1800 11 6767
GlaxoSmithKline - 1800 22 8797
Johnson & Johnson - 1800 22 8111
Kaya Skin Clinic - 1800 22 5292
LifeCell - 1800 44 5323
Manmar Technologies - 1800 33 4420
Pfizer - 1800 442 442
Roche Accu-Chek - 1800 11 45 46
Rudraksha - 1800 21 4708
Varilux Lenses - 1800 44 8383
VLCC - 1800 33 1262
============ ========= ========= ===
Insurance
AMP Sanmar -1800 44 2200
Aviva - 1800 33 2244
Bajaj Allianz - 1800 22 5858
Chola MS General Insurance - 1800 44 5544
HDFC Standard Life - 1800 227 227

ING VYSYA - 1800 419 8228

LIC - 1800 33 4433
Max New York Life - 1800 33 5577
Royal Sundaram - 1800 33 8899
SBI Life Insurance - 1800 22 9090
============ ========= ========= =======
Hotel Reservations
GRT Grand -1800 44 5500
InterContinental Hotels Group - 1800 111 000
Marriott - 1800 22 0044
Sarovar Park Plaza - 1800 111 222
Taj Holidays - 1800 111 825
============ ========= ========= ======
Teleshopping
Asian Sky Shop -1800 22 1800
Jaipan Teleshoppe - 1800 11 5225
Tele Brands - 1800 11 8000
VMI Teleshopping - 1800 447 777
WWS Teleshopping - 1800 220 777
============ ========= ========= ========
Others
Domino's Pizza -1800 111 123
============ ========= ========= ====
Cell Phones
BenQ -1800 22 08 08
Bird CellPhones - 1800 11 7700
Motorola MotoAssist - 1800 11 1211
Nokia - 3030 3838
Sony Ericsson - 3901 1111

GTech, NABARD join hands to connect with farmers

2010-02-11T14:30:00.006+05:30

The Group of Technopark Companies (GTech) is planning to team up with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) to launch a rural connect programme with the aim of sharing technology trends and marketing strategies with the farming community of the State.

The proposal was floated at the end of a one-day conference on ‘Re-engineering Kerala agriculture sector: Information and Communication Technologies in agriculture' that the GTech had hosted recently in Technopark.

FINER DETAILS

According to Mr Binu Sankar, Chief Executive Officer, GTech, the proposal, originally mooted by farmer representatives taking part in the conference, would be taken up positively after working out the modalities.

The conference was held in partnership with the regional office of Nabard, the Kerala State IT Mission, the India Institute of Information Technology and Management (IITM-K) and Technopark.

The farmers' clubs set up under Nabard tutelage and the NGOs working in the farm sector presented two options for a platform to reach out to the farmers, Mr Binu Sankar said.

Finer details would be worked out after taking this up with Nabard officials. But, GTech already has a working model in its Campus Connect programme.

Meanwhile, the one-day conference in Technopark had three sessions dedicated to the use of ICT in agriculture marketing, production and extension services and examined several ongoing projects that aim to provide IT-based services to specific sectors.

It also discussed the core issues facing the agriculture sector and how ICT could be employed in addressing these challenges.

GLARINGLY LOW

In his special address, Dr Ajay Kumar, Principal Secretary IT, Kerala, said that one of the areas where IT can be beneficially applied is agriculture but, ironically, nowhere else was its implementation as glaringly low as it was in agriculture.

Dr Kumar highlighted the two initiatives of the State government in this context – Kissan Kerala and the eKrishi project in Malappuram.

A database of all farmers in at least five districts has been created and the exercise would now be extended to cover the rest of the districts.

According to Mr K.C. Shashidhar, Chief General Manager of the Kerala Regional Office of Nabard, the apex agricultural bank would fund a project to consolidate ICT initiatives for the agriculture sector. Prof Rajeev Srinivasan, said India could hope to become world's ‘food superpower' through proper implementation of ICT in agriculture.

Dr Satichananda Sagola, CEO of Global Risk Hub, Bangalore, spoke about the need for establishing a digital rural information infrastructure service.

Mr Satish Babu, Secretary, GTech and resident, InApp Information Technologies, announced that GTech would organise this event annually focusing on innovations and latest technologies in agriculture.

Courtesy :TheHinduBusinessline

KSPB VREC Photos- Kerala State Planning Board

2010-02-11T04:02:00.007+05:30

Shri.Dr.T.N.Seema ,Mahila Samakhya President ,Shri.Dr.Mridul Eapen ,Member SPB, Asst.Commissioner Of Police Shri.Ramesh Babu
Right : CHIEF Perspective Planning & CHIEF Agriculture, Joint Director

Dr.Jayakumar ,Cardiac Surgeon ,SCTIMST

Kerala State Planning Board - Pattom - Trivandrum

KVK VREC Photos - Krishi Vigyan Kendra

2010-02-11T03:48:00.004+05:30

RCRS VREC Photos - Regional Coffee Research Station

2010-02-11T03:39:00.004+05:30

RCRS VREC Coordinator MR.Sumesh

IISR VREC Photos - Indian Institute of Spices Research

2010-02-11T03:28:00.004+05:30

IISR VREC Coordinator Jigeeshu

DHM VR Expert Center Photos

2010-02-11T03:22:00.002+05:30

MCC VR Expert Center Photos

2010-02-11T03:16:00.003+05:30

Kalpetta VRC Photos

2010-02-11T03:03:00.003+05:30

From Left: District Coordinator Mr.Jiby Paul;VRC Coordinators:Mrs.Neethu Ratheesh -Noolpuzha, Mrs.Deepa Mathayi-Bathery,Mrs.Praveena Sreejith-Mananthavady,and Mrs.Pulari Bajith-Meppadi